US push likely to sail India into NSG club

India and Pakistan are both vying to enter the 48-memebr NSG, with Pakistan trying to drum up support. While US is supporting India’s bid, China is seen to be pro-Pakistan. The congressional report comes after US asked other NSG members to consider India’s bid favourably. 

“Islamabad’s expansion of its nuclear arsenal, development of new types of nuclear weapons, and adoption of a doctrine called ‘full spectrum deterrence’ have led some observers to express concern about an increased risk of nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India, which also continues to expand its nuclear arsenal,” the bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its latest report. 

On introduction of tactical nuclear weapons in Pakistan’s inventory, CRS said some observers have expressed concern that such weapons could increase the risk of nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India. 

Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal probably consists of 110130 nuclear warheads, although it could have more, said the report ‘Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons’, authored by Paul K Kerr, and Mary Beth Nikitin. CRS is the independent research wing of the US Congress, which periodically prepares reports on issues of interest to American lawmakers. It does not represent the official position.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has assured Narendra Modi of the UK’s “firm support” for India’s NSG membership bid, a boost to the country ahead of the nuclear trading club’s crucial meeting next week. Cameron confirmed Britain’s backing in a telephone call to the PM.