The Vienna meeting of NSG's Consultative Committee on November 11 was inconclusive on India's application as China continued to oppose entry of non-NPT nations and called for a two-step "non-discriminatory" solution for admission of such countries into the grouping.
When asked about the future of India's membership bid, an External Affairs Ministry source said, "Our membership remains with the NSG. We are also engaged with all the members of the Group."
Beijing's stand for a non-discriminatory criteria is regarded significant as Pakistan, a close ally of Beijing, too has applied for the NSG membership along with India.
India has secured the backing of the US and majority of the NSG members based on its non-proliferation record in comparison to Pakistan which faced serious allegations of nuclear proliferation in the past specially with regard to its nuclear scientist A Q Khan.
India has been maintaining that NPT membership was not essential for joining the NSG, as was the case with France.
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