Pakistan today stepped up its efforts to drum up support for its bid to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, with its top diplomat dialling foreign ministers of Austria and Turkey. Foreign Office said that Pakistan was continuing with diplomatic efforts to muster support for its candidacy of the 48-member elite grouping.

The Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz today made telephone calls to Foreign Minister of Austria Sebastian Kurz and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

'The adviser underscored Pakistan's credentials for the NSG membership and emphasized the importance of non-discriminatory approach on NSG expansion to non-NPT states,' it said.

Pakistan increased efforts to garner diplomatic support after United States President Barack Obama endorsed Indian bid for the NSG membership. Aziz has already said Pakistan was sure to get membership on merit if the gates of the NSG were opened for India.

He recently spoke with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentilioni, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully and Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea Yun Byung-se to seek their support. Aziz had earlier spoke over telephone with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the issue.