The U.S. Has on Friday said that India joining the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is about civilian use of nuclear energy and not an arms race. The U.S. has maintained that India fulfils the requirements for joining the NSG. The U.S. has been supportive of India's membership to the group.

"This is not about an arms race and it's not about nuclear weapons. This is about the peaceful civil use of nuclear energy and so we would certainly hope that Pakistan understands that," State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference.

"Look, all I can say is that during his visit to India in 2015, President (Barack) Obama did affirm the US view that India meets missile technology control regime requirements and is ready for membership. But it's a consensus body, so we'll wait and see how the vote goes," Mr Toner said.

"Deliberations about the prospects of new members joining the Nuclear Supplier Groups are an internal matter among the current members. I don't have much to say beyond that other than that I think they meet regularly," he said.

"This I not a specific meeting, I believe - not set up to particularly talk about this issue," Mr Toner said.

"They (Pakistan) have made public their interest, and certainly any country can submit its application for membership. We will consider based on a consensus decision," the spokesman said.

Pakistan has been apprehensive about India's entry. The neighbouring country had argued that the move would lead to an arms race in the subcontinent.

By Premji