David Cameron assures PM Modi of UK's 'firm support’ for India's NSG membership bid

LONDON, June 17: British Prime Minister David Cameron has assured Prime Minister rendra 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 for India’s membership of the 48-tion Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in a telephone call to PM Modi on Thursday.

A Downing Street spokesperson said, “The Prime Minister spoke to the Indian Prime Minister rendra Modi about India’s application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a group of nuclear supplier countries that works together to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.”

“The Prime Minister confirmed that the UK would firmly support India’s application. They agreed that in order for the bid to be successful it would be important for India to continue to strengthen its non-proliferation credentials, including by reinforcing the separation between civil and military nuclear activity,” the spokesperson said. The two leaders also took stock of UK-India ties in their telephonic conversation. “They agreed that the UK-India relationship was going from strength to strength, including through the recent visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and wife Kate),” the spokesperson said. India’s case for NSG membership is also being strongly pushed by the US , which has written to other members to support India’s bid at the plery meeting of the group expected to be held in Seoul on June 24. While majority of the elite group backed India’s membership, Chi along with New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria were opposed to India’s admission. (IANS)