Hiroshima, Nagasaki leaders disappointed by NSG waiver to India

Tokyo, Sep 8 : Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba and Nagasaki Governor Genjiro Kaneko have expressed disappointment that a US proposal to lift the global ban on nuclear trade with India has received international approval.

Akiba issued a statement saying it is "totally disappointing".

Akiba urged the Japanese government, which approved the proposal, to make further efforts to achieve a total elimination of nuclear weapons, Japan Times Online reported.

In Nagasaki, Kaneko said the decision was "very disappointing," adding the special treatment for India may affect the nonproliferation regime under the NPT.

The 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group reached consensus on Saturday to give India a trade waiver for its bilateral nuclear cooperation deal with the US.

India, which is not party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, is now allowed to start trading nuclear technology for civil nuclear programs with NSG member states.

ANI