Obama backs India's quest for permanent UN Security Council seat

President Barack Obama today wound up his visit with the announcement of broad support to India's bid for permanent seat in the UN Security Council and offering to play "any role" in reducing Indo-Pak tensions, an euphemism for Kashmir which has been a sensitive issue here.

Indo-Pak tensions came up during talks Obama had with Prime Minister  Manmohan Singh who expresseed readiness to engage with Pakistan but made it clear that there can be no dialogue till Islamabad ends "terror-induced coercion".

During the 75-minute meeting in the Hyderabad House on packed day of events,  Singh and Obama agreed on a number of new initiatives, including cooperation on internal security, removal of Indian companies from the US sanctions' list and setting up of a research centre in India in civil nuclear field.

Obama, who struck the right chord with the Indian political and business leaders, made the most-awaited announcement when he spoke to MPs backing India's quest for permanent  membership of a "reformed" UNSC in the "years ahead".

The announcement, which was greeted by thunderous applause by the gathering, was tempered with his suggestions for what India should do to fulfill its increased responsibility that comes with increased power.

His message was clear that India should speak up on issues like human rights violations in Myanmar and implement sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.

"Indeed, the just and sustainable international order that America seeks includes a United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate.

"That is why I can say today in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member," he said in his speech in Parliament.

Recalling the terror attack on Parliament in 2001 and Mumbai attacks in 2008, Obama said the US would continue to insist to Pakistan's leaders that "terrorist safe heavens within their borders are unacceptable and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai attck should be brought to justice."

Earlier, addressing a joint press conference with Singh, Obama said Kashmir was a "longstanding dispute" between the two countries and that he believed both have interest in reducing tensions.

Emphasising that the US "cannot impose" solution to this problem, he said he has "indicated" to Singh that "we are happy to play any role the parties think is appropriate to reducing these tensions that is in interest of the region, the two countries and the United States."

Hoping that "coversations" between India and Pakistan would start over the "next several months and years", Obama said the dialogue may not start on that "particular flash point" [of Kashmir] but other issues like confidence-building measures to enable the two countries to focus on range of their challenges and opportunities.