Washington: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Muhammad Kasuri has suggested expansion of the nuclear club of five members – US, Russia, China, Britain and France – to eight by including India, Pakistan and Israel to implement the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

"Frankly, as far as NPT is concerned, there are five countries in it. India and Pakistan have demonstrated their nuclear capacity. We are willing to be let in if you would let us in, and we would conform to all the requirements.

"Israel has not demonstrated its capacity but probably it is more advanced. Generally it is more advanced technologically than both India and Pakistan. In this field also, (it must be so). Somehow, if these three countries can be acknowledged as nuclear powers, there will be eight countries – five plus three," Kasuri, said at the American Enterprise Institute, a leading think tank.

The visiting Minister said the eight members of the club could then implement the nuclear NPT. "We wouldn't want 10 new members in the club."

The head of Pakistan's strategic arm, he said, will soon be visiting the US.

He also urged the US to provide Pakistan sufficient military equipment, saying that would reduce Islamabad's reliance on nuclear weapons and prevent a nuclear race in the subcontinent.

PTI