Experts praise US stance on India’s claim for UN Security Council seat

Diplomats and security experts welcomed Barack Obama’s statement supporting India’s claim for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Bureaucrats said it was a step in the right direction.

Former foreign secretary Salman Haider told DNA, “The readiness to see India as a UN Security Council member is a step forward, but India should not think that this membership is round the corner, as the amendment of UN Security Council is a long-drawn process.

“India is ready and mature enough to accept this responsibility as it has played an important role in international relations, has been a supporter of the UN and has contributed in the United Nations’ peace-keeping missions.”

Last month India was elected as a non-permanent member of UNSC for a period of two years as the Asian seat fell vacant after Japan completed its tenure.

India is the largest troop-providing country to the United Nations for peace-keeping missions for the past two decades.

Former naval chief Arun Prakash told DNA, “India might take 15-20 years to actually come there, because of her non-aligned and neutral stance in international matters, but this is a good beginning.”