India holds special briefing for NSG members

Keen to ensure that the Nuclear Suppliers Group gives an unconditional exemption to it for civil nuclear trade, India on Thursday held a special briefing for the members of the 45-nation grouping to convey its commitment towards non-proliferation and allay fears, if any.

The Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon is understood to have cited the country's impeccable track record with regard to non-proliferation to assert that the waiver will not in any way weaken the global non-proliferation regime.

Menon, accompanied by the Prime Minister's Special Envoy Shyam Saran and senior officials of Department of Atomic Energy, is believed to have pointed out to the NSG members that India has in place strict export control regime besides other measures to guard against transfer of dual-use technology or nuclear fuel to ineligible entities.

Almost all members of the nuclear cartel were present at the Vienna International Centre where the special briefing was held soon after the first session of the two-day meeting of the NSG to consider waiver for India.

This is the second briefing by India for the NSG countries collectively in over two months.

Menon had on July 18 briefed the NSG countries along with members of the IAEA Board of Governors just before the later's meeting August 1.