US non-committal on permanent UNSC seat for India

NEW DELHI: Just ahead of the Obama visit, the US continues to sound non-committal about support to India for a permanent seat at the UNSC. While welcoming India's election as a non-permanent member on Monday, US officials were guarded in their reaction saying that UNSC reforms were a complicated matter and that Washington looked forward to working together with India over the issue.

India has been hoping that President Obama will endorse India's candidature for permanent membership during his visit. "We welcome India's election as a non-permanent member and look forward to working with it on the issue of UNSC reforms. However, UNSC reforms is a complicated issue. The US focus is on improving the efficacy of the Council,'' said an official.

On India's decision to sign the CSC ahead of Obama's visit, US officials said that this was a positive step and expressed the hope that it will allow companies to launch commercial negotiations. "We are hopeful that the outcome is consistent with international norms so that they can lead to nuclear transactions between the two countries," said officials.

They added that the two sides are trying to "resolve differences" over issues relating to the civil liability legislation so that US companies can begin nuclear business with India.

Senior officials also admitted that India's participation in the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) has been "under discussions", but added that New Delhi's membership in the nuclear cartel will have to be agreed to by all NSG members by consensus. "NSG is a voluntary organisation and works only on the basis of consensus," said an official.

While talking about the various bilateral issues to figure during Obama's three-day visit, the officials said they expect to hear about the impact of changes in US policy of H1B visa, outsourcing regulations and market access but downplayed the "frictions" on these issues. They said it would not be proper to describe it as protectionism. "We will find ways to take care of some of these issues," they said.

The officials made it clear that US policy on Kashmir has been very clear for many years and that it was an issue which was part of the discussions between India and Pakistan and not an issue for the US or any other country to play a role in.