Bush for greater role for India globally but says path complicated

Pitching for a greater role for India globally, former US president George W Bush today favoured its entry into the expanded UN Security Council, which he acknowledged had got caught into political complications over questions like size and criteria.

Bush, whose tenure saw a transformation of Indo-US ties, also "heartily" supported president Barack Obama's remarks that America's relations with India should not only be one of the most important ones but must be one of the best ones.

He favoured a push to the strategic ties and review of the immigration rules, particularly in the context of H1B visas to allow skilled workers, most of whom come from India, to contribute to the US economy on a long-term basis.

The former president showered praise on "wise leader" prime minister Manmohan Singh, with whom he had taken the landmark initiative of civil nuclear agreement even as the US recognised India's nuclear weapon programme.

"We must consider the possibility of a seat for India in the UN Security Council," he said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here.

"India has arrived as a strong democratic country in the world. It is a tolerant, peaceful and multi-religious democracy," said Bush, who had visited India as president along with wife Laura in March 2006 and was "dazzled".

He, however, "explained" the complexities involved in India's inclusion in the world body as questions like size, criteria and veto-related issues are yet to be addressed.

India is an emerging nation and already in the G-20, Bush said as he listed a series of decisions, like civil nuclear agreement, lifting of American sanctions on hi-tech trade and open skies policies, taken during his tenure.

"There is no question that the largest democracy should be in the midst (of important global decisions)," the former US president said.

With regard to the possibility of India's inclusion in UNSC, he said "politics is difficult" and pointed out that there were "threshold" questions like how big should the UNSC be, how many should get veto, what should be the criteria and composition.

Citing "new realities", he said reform should be considered and "might be considered".

On criteria question, he said if it is taken into account, then Japan has a chance from Asia.

On the size, he said there are suggestions that the strength should be raised from present 5 to 10 and wondered what was the rationale behind it as "it may be too big."

During his tenure, Bush said, the US had "seriously considered" expansion of the UNSC but there were "difficulties".

On Indo-US civil nuclear agreement, he said he knew the negotiations would be "complicated" but "we worked through the difficulties".

To a question, he defended the engagement with Pakistan, particularly post-9/11 and disagreed that the US had been "conned" by it.