US favours India sorting out Kashmir with Pakistan: Krishna

NEW DELHI: India today dismissed the possibility of a swap with the US on Kashmir problem for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and said that Washington feels that it is an issue to be sorted bilaterally with Pakistan.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna also asserted that India's role as non-permanent member, which it won in the UNSC yesterday, will not not encumbered by any issues.

He does not not share the impression that the current phase of the problem in the Kashmir valley and its handling gave India a different image in the outside world.

"To my mind it sounds all speculative. These are kites being flown. There is no no truth in it. The US has been conveying to India that we should sort out the issue. If similar suggestions are put we take them with seriousness," Krishna said at a breakfast meeting with editors here.

He was asked about reports that US President Barack Obama, who is to visit India next week, wants India to sort settle the with Pakistan and that Washington would help India get permanent membership of the UNSC.

He was also asked whether the handling of the Kashmir issue in its current phase harmed its image and could encumber its role as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

The minister said India's relationship with the US was not not dependent on its ties with other countries including Pakistan.

"India, US relationship are between two democracies which value rule of law and there are various circumstances that bring us closely together. They (US) have their own compulsions in Afghanistan and that is where the US will need Pakistan much more now than before," he said.

Krishna said the US also understands India's constructive role in Afganistan. "So the US has a special relationship with India and they recognise India's efforts and they encourage it."