India while terming the NPT as discriminatory has made it clear that as a responsible nuclear state, it scrupulously adheres to non-proliferation norms for which it deserves to be included as a member of the NSG and arms control regimes like MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group.
In the first leg of his visit, the President had acknowledged Belgium's “upfront support” for creating an exception for India in NSG and had suggested that a clear public stand favouring India's effort for becoming permanent member of four Arms Control regimes “would be in line with our excellent cooperation” with Belgium.
The NSG has 47 members, MTCR has 34 countries as its members, Wassenaar Arrangement, an order which is for the promotion of regional security, international security and stability by offering transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms, dual-use goods and technologies, has 41 members.
The Australia Group, an informal forum of countries which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical and biological weapons, has 42 members.
Belgium is a member of all these groups.
