London, Nov 11, IRNA ,The UK Government has announced the lifting of a ban on exporting sensitive nuclear technology to India, despite it withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) after illegally developing nuclear weapons.
Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said that the UK will “now consider on a case-by-case basis licence applications for peaceful use of all items” on the so-called Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) trigger list and dual-use list when destined for civil facilities.
“We will continue to consider applications for exports that will contribute to the physical protection or security of military nuclear facilities or assets in India,” Rammell said in a written statement to parliament published Tuesday.
But he added that Britain’s licensing policy towards Pakistan, which also withdrew from the NPT after carrying out nuclear weapons tests, “remains unchanged.”
The lifting of the sanctions against India comes after the NSG multinational body in September agreed to provide an exception from its guidelines for exports to civil nuclear facilities in India that are safeguarded by the IAEA.
It was followed by the US signing a civilian nuclear co-operation accord with India last month to end 34 years of sanctions. France also signed an agreement with India which paved the way for the sale of nuclear reactors to Delhi.
Rammell insisted that the British ban would remain in force on items destined for “unsafeguarded nuclear fuel cycle or nuclear explosive activities” or where there is an “unacceptable risk” the material might be diverted to those activities.
But he also added that the UK will continue to encourage contacts between UK nuclear scientists, academics and those working in or with the nuclear industry with their Indian counterparts, except where such contacts might have “weapons-related aspects.”
“Where such contacts involve the transfer of technology which require export licences we will continue to consider applications for such licences on a cases-by-case basis, in accordance with the provisions of UK export control legislation,” the minister said.
The British government’s policy since March 2002 had been to previously refuse all licence applications for NSG trigger list items to India.