Pakistan's NSA sees ‘greater design’ behind US support for India's NSG membership

[Devil Soul]

Pakistan's NSA sees ‘greater design’ behind US support for India's NSG membership
By Kamran Yousaf
Published: June 22, 2016
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ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua on Tuesday viewed American efforts to include India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as part of a ‘greater design’ to contain China on the one hand and to prevent the resurgence of Russia on the other hand.

Speaking at a seminar on ‘Pakistan’s case for NSA membership’, Janjua said the current move by the US to induct India into the 48-nation exclusive nuclear club should be seen in the context of ‘global power politics trends’.

Making India an NSG member state will be a mistake

He then listed ‘contain China, prevent the resurgence of Russia and keep the Muslim world in a controlled chaos’ as some of the leading trends in the current global power politics.

“So, it’s [part of] a greater design,” he argued, referring to the US decision to lead the campaign for an NSG membership for India. It is unprecedented that a top Pakistani official publicly made such a candid statement about a sensitive issue, though Gen Janjua clarified that this was his ‘personal opinion’.

Talking about the implications of these developments, Janjua cautioned that American policies would ultimately bring Pakistan even closer to China.

Pakistan is upset at the US decision to aggressively campaign for India while ignoring Islamabad’s aspirations to become an NSG member. Last month, Pakistan formally applied for a membership of the NSG, setting the stage for a showdown with India at the group’s plenary session that began on Monday in Seoul.

Islamabad sought the membership of the nuclear trading nations’ club after the Western countries led by the US quietly launched diplomatic efforts to induct India into the NSG.

Pakistan seeks NSG membership to curb nuclear proliferation

The campaign for India’s membership into the group is seen as carrying the risk of antagonising Pakistan as well as China, which could veto any Indian application.

Pakistan fears that the induction of India into the NSG would disturb strategic balance and trigger a new arms race in South Asia.

India has launched a hectic diplomatic push to secure the support of 48 members of the NSG. Last week the Indian foreign secretary paid an unannounced visit to Beijing to seek China’s support.

However, India’s efforts were dented by China’s announcement on Monday that India’s admission to the exclusive nuclear club was not on the agenda of the NSG’s meeting currently under way in the South Korean capital.

The announcement made by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying in Beijing is seen as a rebuff to India’s effort to join the NSG. “The inclusion of non-NPT members has never been a topic on the agenda of NSG meetings. In Seoul this year, there is no such topic,” Chunying said.

The spokesperson said the opinion within the member countries was divided on including not just India but all countries that are not signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2016.

 

[maximuswarrior]

The US obsession to "curb" China and Russia has taken a preposterous shape. It is all about fear mongering and containment. Every single foreign policy in the US is shaped with the thought to contain China and Russia. It is a negative and hostile approach which has always proved to be counterproductive.

On the other hand, I'm glad that the US is showing its true colors because Pakistan has always been under the illusion that this country is an ally or a friend. Time has come for Pakistan to decide whether it seeks to look after its interests or remain subservient to others. The NSG is the latest attempt to divide and bully. Luckily, China is no mood to accept any of it.

We don't need to caution or remind the US that we are close or getting closer to China. This is already an established fact and every US response and decision can be traced back to this reality.

 

[GURU DUTT]

The US obsession to "curb" China and Russia has taken a preposterous shape. It is all about fear mongering and containment. Every single foreign policy in the US is shaped with the thought to contain China and Russia. It is a negative and hostile approach which has always proved to be counterproductive.

On the other hand, I'm glad that the US is showing its true colors because Pakistan has always been under the illusion that this country is an ally or a friend. Time has come for Pakistan to decide whether it seeks to look after its interests or remain subservient to others.

there are no friends in the real world of international politics only thing permanent are your interests

at one time it was pakistan (from clod war till OBL episode ) now USA is siding with india for more than just containing china its more to do with economick matters cause they define your long term interests

as for NSG we will make sure it happens for us and use all owr might to get the job done ... good luck pakistan good luck china

 

[maximuswarrior]

there are no friends in the real world of international politics only thing permanent are your interests

at one time it was pakistan (from clod war till OBL episode ) now USA is siding with india for more than just containing china its more to do with economick matters cause they define your long term interests

as for NSG we will make sure it happens for us and use all owr might to get the job done ... good luck pakistan good luck china

You think the US and India are the only ones with interests in the world? Think again.

Pakistan and China too will make sure their interests are met. The US and India can be sure about that. Whether India is included into the NSG fold won't make an iota of difference. On the contrary, this will serve as an extra reminder and motivation to pursue our goals even more persistently.

 

[GURU DUTT]

You think the US and India are the only ones with interests in the world? Think again.

Pakistan and China too will make sure their interests are met. The US and India can be sure about that. Whethwer India is included into the NSG fold won't make an iota of difference.

when did i said only USA and India have mutually benficial interests in each other ... see USA is a hyper power and we have China which has constantly harmed our interests so we need someone which can make us strong so china stop its double game on us with help of proxies

as for NSG well we are already getting every thing associated with it even without bieng a part of it and the ultimate goal in UNSC which china knows and wants to stop lets see for how long

 

[maximuswarrior]

when did i said only USA and India have mutually benficial interests in each other ... see USA is a hyper power and we have China which has constantly harmed our interests so we need someone which can make us strong so china stop its double game on us with help of proxies

as for NSG well we are already getting every thing associated with it even without bieng a part of it and the ultimate goal in UNSC which china knows and wants to stop lets see for how long

Well, the same could be said about India and the US who play double games and support proxies of their liking. This accusation goes both ways.

If India is already getting the benefits why is it so desperate to become part of NSG?

We'll see about that. Thus far, India is making unannounced trips to China so we know who really is desperate.

 

[GURU DUTT]

Well, the same could be said about India and the US who play double games and support proxies of their liking. This accusation goes both ways.

If India is already getting the benefits why is it so desperate to become part of NSG?

We'll see about that. Thus far, India is making unannounced trips to China so we know who really is desperate.

China will never support india to be part of NSG and USA will make sure india be a part of NSG as its the stepping stone to UNSC as if india gets the VETO power china loses a very big trump card and USA will get more power ... think about it

 

[Bharat Muslim]

Well, the same could be said about India and the US who play double games and support proxies of their liking. This accusation goes both ways.

If India is already getting the benefits why is it so desperate to become part of NSG?

We'll see about that. Thus far, India is making unannounced trips to China so we know who really is desperate.

Are you American typing from Pakistan?

 

[maximuswarrior]

Are you American typing from Pakistan?

LOL Where did you get the impression that I'm an American? Have your eyes checked.

 

[Neruppu da]

It will get more interesting as to how Russia will act now...

 

[Bharat Muslim]

According to John Kerry, India is just for diverting attention. He intends to needle Russia through Mongolia.

Kerry hails Mongolia as 'oasis of democracy' in tough neighborhood

ULAANBAATAR | BY YEGANEH TORBATI

A woman in traditional attire presents U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry with cheese curds as he disembarks from his plane upon arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 5, 2016.
REUTERS/SAUL LOEB/POOL.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hailed Mongolia as an "oasis of democracy" sitting in a tough location between Russia and China as he made a rare visit by a cabinet-level U.S. official on Sunday.

Arriving from Paris, Kerry made the visit to Mongolia en route to Beijing to attend the eighth Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the high-level talks held between the United States and China each year.

The Obama administration has sought to cultivate Mongolia as a partner, given its location between two increasingly assertive U.S. rivals – China and Russia, countries Mongolia relies on heavily for trade and energy imports.

U.S. officials regularly tout Mongolia, a country of three million people, as an inspirational story of democratic transition since winning independence from the Soviet Union a quarter-century ago.

"You really set a great example," Kerry told Mongolian and American embassy staff at the U.S. ambassador's residence.

"You've got China on one side of you, and Russia on the other side of you, and there are always a lot of pressures, and here you are in this oasis of democracy fighting for your own identity."

But Mongolia's democratic and human rights records have come under scrutiny.

The 2015 State Department report on human rights in Mongolia noted "vague laws and a lack of transparency in legislative, executive, and judicial processes" that "undermined government efficiency and public confidence and invited corruption."

Parliamentary elections are to be held this month, and democracy advocates have criticized a rule change by parliament last month that is expected to disadvantage smaller parties.

The lack of transparency in business regulations has hampered foreign investment, officials say, badly needed in an economy where growth has all but halted, far from a peak of 17.5 percent in 2011.

Falling prices for its chief exports, coal and copper, and weak demand from China, by far Mongolia's biggest trading partner, are behind the slowdown.

Kerry said it was important the Mongolian government implement a transparency agreement with the United States, which would provide greater business confidence to foreign investors.

The Mongolian and U.S. governments signed the agreement in 2013 after years of negotiations but its final implementation has been mired in red tape.

The agreement would commit Mongolia to publish in English an explanation for proposed regulations, and allow for public comments on those regulations, among other measures.

"The implementation of this agreement is really key, a very important step to be able to attract foreign direct investment," Kerry said.

(Editing by Lincoln Feast)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mongolia-idUSKCN0YR02T

According to John Kerry, India is just for diverting attention. He intends to needle Russia through Mongolia.

Kerry hails Mongolia as 'oasis of democracy' in tough neighborhood

ULAANBAATAR | BY YEGANEH TORBATI

A woman in traditional attire presents U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry with cheese curds as he disembarks from his plane upon arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 5, 2016.
REUTERS/SAUL LOEB/POOL.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hailed Mongolia as an "oasis of democracy" sitting in a tough location between Russia and China as he made a rare visit by a cabinet-level U.S. official on Sunday.

Arriving from Paris, Kerry made the visit to Mongolia en route to Beijing to attend the eighth Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the high-level talks held between the United States and China each year.

The Obama administration has sought to cultivate Mongolia as a partner, given its location between two increasingly assertive U.S. rivals – China and Russia, countries Mongolia relies on heavily for trade and energy imports.

U.S. officials regularly tout Mongolia, a country of three million people, as an inspirational story of democratic transition since winning independence from the Soviet Union a quarter-century ago.

"You really set a great example," Kerry told Mongolian and American embassy staff at the U.S. ambassador's residence.

"You've got China on one side of you, and Russia on the other side of you, and there are always a lot of pressures, and here you are in this oasis of democracy fighting for your own identity."

But Mongolia's democratic and human rights records have come under scrutiny.

The 2015 State Department report on human rights in Mongolia noted "vague laws and a lack of transparency in legislative, executive, and judicial processes" that "undermined government efficiency and public confidence and invited corruption."

Parliamentary elections are to be held this month, and democracy advocates have criticized a rule change by parliament last month that is expected to disadvantage smaller parties.

The lack of transparency in business regulations has hampered foreign investment, officials say, badly needed in an economy where growth has all but halted, far from a peak of 17.5 percent in 2011.

Falling prices for its chief exports, coal and copper, and weak demand from China, by far Mongolia's biggest trading partner, are behind the slowdown.

Kerry said it was important the Mongolian government implement a transparency agreement with the United States, which would provide greater business confidence to foreign investors.

The Mongolian and U.S. governments signed the agreement in 2013 after years of negotiations but its final implementation has been mired in red tape.

The agreement would commit Mongolia to publish in English an explanation for proposed regulations, and allow for public comments on those regulations, among other measures.

"The implementation of this agreement is really key, a very important step to be able to attract foreign direct investment," Kerry said.

(Editing by Lincoln Feast)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mongolia-idUSKCN0YR02T

 

[VCheng]

Gen Janjua clarified that this was his ‘personal opinion’.

The good General is entitled to have his personal opinion, of course.

 

[randomradio]

Pakistan fears that the induction of India into the NSG would disturb strategic balance and trigger a new arms race in South Asia.

The oft repeated arms race bogey. They always fail to mention the fact that Pakistan cannot afford one.

 

[R Wing]

India shouldn't get too smug about the fact that the US is overlooking all of its issues simply because it needs to prop it up as a counterweight to China in the region.

My advice to India would be not to buy into this illusion and learn from Pakistan's experience --- what happens when US interests change and suddenly Modi is back to being a blacklisted thug and support of various terror movements (Baloch, Tamil, etc.) are highlighted day and night by the NYT and others? It ain't pretty!

The oft repeated arms race bogey. They always fail to mention the fact that Pakistan cannot afford one.

I believe we can easily maintain our minimum defensive deterrent in the face of an aggressive neighbor. It's not about absolute numbers, remember..

 

[randomradio]

India shouldn't get too smug about the fact that the US is overlooking all of its issues simply because it needs to prop it up as a counterweight to China in the region.

My advice to India would be not to buy into this illusion and learn from Pakistan's experience --- what happens when US interests change and suddenly Modi is back to being a blacklisted thug and support of various terror movements (Baloch, Tamil, etc.) are highlighted day and night by the NYT and others? It ain't pretty!

Nah, we'll take what we can get and then run away.

I believe we can easily maintain our minimum defensive deterrent in the face of an aggressive neighbor. It's not about absolute numbers, remember..

So that's not an arms race.