New Delhi, Oct 12: India on Tuesday was elected unopposed as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in a step many hope will be a precursor to it gaining a permanent seat at the UN's top table.
"I believe this will take us closer to permanent membership," said a former Indian foreign secretary, Lalit Mansingh. "Many people in India expect that the time has come for India to be accepted as a permanent member."
Three of the five permanent members - Russia, France and Britain - back India's push for a permanent seat, as does Australia.
But Mansingh says US support for UN reform will be crucial if India is to achieve its goal.
The US President, Barack Obama, is expected to make a statement on the matter when he visits India next month.
A new book by the American journalist Bob Woodward, which describes top US officials discussing ways of reducing geopolitical tension in south Asia as part of a US exit strategy from Afghanistan, has stoked speculation that Washington could demand a settlement of the long-running dispute in Kashmir in return for US endorsement of India for a permanent Security Council seat. The US State Department has categorically rejected any link between the two issues.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST