NSG membership vital for supply of latest weapons to India: Defence expert

PK Sehgal said India is presently in a very advanced stage as far as nuclear technology is concerned

Defence expert PK Sehgal on Monday dubbed India's desire to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as 'critically vital', saying the membership will enhance the supply of latest and advanced machinery to the nation.

"India's desire to become a member of the NSG is critically vital for us. At present, we have got 30 nuclear power plants already in existence in the country, 10 are under construction and 20 more are planned to be put in place in the next 10-15 years primarily to promote clean energy, renewable energy and take on the critical energy deficiency of India," Sehgal told ANI.

"This grouping of 48 nations' controls transfer of trade and technology. You need nuclear fuel to run these plants and it is these people who control them. And hence, India is absolutely desirous of getting this nuclear fuel from these countries," he said.

Sehgal further said India is presently in a very advanced stage as far as nuclear technology is concerned and it will be allowed to sell its technology to other nations primarily for peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the field of industry, agriculture medicine, biotechnology, etc.

"India also wants to seek a membership of the 34 nation Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) because missiles are needed to deliver the nuclear weapon. India's record, once again, in this regard has been absolutely clean and impeccable. And India wants to become a member of this. This membership is likely to come India's way during the current visit of the Prime Minister to Washington and if it comes through it will almost amount to a back door entry to NSG," he added.

Rolling out America, New Zealand, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland and Mexico as the main opposition to India's membership, the defence expert pointed out at the efforts made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to win over the support from each of these nations.

India's biggest hurdle at the upcoming NSG meeting on June 9 will be to overcome China's two-faced policy of opposing New Delhi's application to join the group on one hand while violating terms by supplying banned nuclear materials to Pakistan on the other.

With US President Barack Obama backing India's entry into the NSG, New Delhi is looking to Washington to help overcome resistance from China and several other nations.

Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to the US assumes significance in this regard.