Pak launches fresh campaign for NSG membership

Re-launching its campaign to join the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Pakistan has approached the White House this week with a request to support its bid.

The Pakistan Embassy in Washington in a statement said, that Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani called upon U.S. State Department and Congressional leaders to support Islamabad's membership to the NSG group, reports Dawn.

Holding a series of meetings with significant think tanks and opinion-makers in Washington, Jilani explained that his country has a strong case for joining the group.

The statement added that Jilani highlighted Pakistan's "unambiguous commitment to the international objectives of the nuclear non-proliferation and robust command and control systems of its civilian nuclear programme."

He also assured the U.S. leadership that Islamabad shares the international concerns against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery.

"Pakistan's inclusion in the NSG would be the right decision to enhance international security," Dawn quoted Jilani as saying.

Pakistan had applied for the NSG membership on May 19 but its request was rejected following allegations that some of its scientists had shared nuclear technology with Iran and Libya.

It had reiterated its request for NSG, which seeks to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture atomic weapons.

Islamabad says that its membership into the NSG would not only go a long way in strengthening the international non-proliferation regime but would also help the country enhance its capabilities in harnessing peaceful uses of nuclear technology.

India also failed to join the NSG in May after China opposed its application.

To admit a new member, the NSG requires unanimous support from all member nations.