A roundtable discussion was organized by the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) on the “Forthcoming Special Plenary Session of the Nuclear Suppliers Group†on October 06, 2016 at the CISS office Islamabad. The discussion aimed at analyzing the existing politics surrounding the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in light of the upcoming special plenary meeting of the group. Mr Kamran Akhtar, Director General Disarmament from Pakistan Foreign Office was the guest speaker at the occasion. Other discussants included Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi executive director CISS, Dr Naeem Salik Senior Research Fellow CISS and Brig Zahir Kazmi from the Strategic Plans Division. The event was attended by members of academia, think tanks and university students.
Director General Disarmament Kamran Akhtar discussed about state of play at NSG, Pakistan’s application for NSG membership and the efforts Government of Pakistan has made regarding dispelling international misperceptions surrounding Pakistan’s membership in NSG. Mr Kamran also apprised the audience about Pakistan’s interactions with the NSG members and their responses regarding Pakistan’s membership in the suppliers group. He said that Pakistan’s application for membership in NSG was not in response to India’s application and Pakistan was not acting as a spoiler as its contact with NSG preceded its application.
Brig Zahir Kazmi from SPD was of the view that holding of special plenary on NSG is very much a possibility later in this year. He said that NSG will take time to absorb both Indian and Pakistani applications for membership in the group and the decision is likely to take place in the 2017 NSG plenary and not before. Kazmi said that Pakistan is proactively dealing with the issue given political and normative odds pitted against it. In this context Brig Kazmi was of the view that 2008 waiver to India should be resiended as the Indian government has made an application for NSG membership
Dr Naeem Salik was of the view that Pakistan should consider taking certain actions that would build its case for membership. He suggested to separation of civilian and military nuclear fuel cycle and signing the additional IAEA protocol in order to enhance its credentials for NSG membership.
The talk was followed by interactive discussion and a vote of thanks was extended by Executive Director CISS to the worthy speaker and honorable guests for their active participation.
