Confident over NSG, Swaraj seeks cooperation from Pak on Pathankot attacks

India displayed confidence on Sunday that membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is not far away from its grasp and also said it won’t oppose the application of any other country. While addressing a press conference, External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said New Delhi will try to win China’s support over the issue. She said, “China is not protesting membership of India in NSG and we will succeed in convincing the Dragon too.”

On Pathankot attacks, the External Affairs minister said India is expecting concrete action from Pakistan. She also conveyed “World now agrees we shouldn't differentiate between good and bad terrorism”. During the press meet, she also emphasized on India-Pakistan relations, and said it is complicated and talks and terrorism cannot go together.

The External Affairs Minister said Pakistan has not refused to allow a team of NIA to visit that country to carry forward the probe into the Pathankot terror attack case and that it is just seeking "more time" to examine the evidence. A five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan had visited India between March 27 and 31 to collect evidence with regard to the attack.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also said the "warmth and ease" in relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif can help resolve complex issues between the two neighbours.

Swaraj said the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad had met the authorites on the issue twice and "they said they are analysing (the evidence). They have not refused (to allow NIA to visit). They just said they want more time." 

On Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Swaraj said, there had been a substantial FDI inflow, as much as $55 billion or Rs 369,000 crore investment has come in last two years. She also said, it is about 43 pc more what it was during the UPA regime.”

She also said the foreign outreach had helped India enlist assistance of global players including US, France, Germany and England in flagship schemes like ‘Smart Cities’.

Referring to New Delhi’s help to Nepal during the earthquake of 2015, she said “In the last two years, India has emerged as a strong supporter and a friend in crisis to neighbouring countries,”.

On the issue of Hindus in Bangladesh, she said the Sheikh Hasina government had been taking adequate steps and had so far arrested as many as 3,000 suspects.