USINPAC welcomes Obama's endorsement of India for the permanent UNSC membership

Washington, Nov.9 (ANI): The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) has welcomed President Barack Obama's endorsement for India's bid for the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The growing status of India as an economic and regional superpower merits its inclusion as a permanent member of the UNSC.

President Obama made the announcement during his address to the Joint Session of the Indian Parliament on Monday. An effective, efficient, credible and legitimate United Nations would have to reflect the realities of the 21st C, and that includes a reformed UNSC with India as a permanent member. India has long staked claim to a permanent seat on the basis of its regional eminence, nuclear prowess and economic growth.

Sanjay Puri, USINPAC Chairman said, "We are very happy to see President Obama endorse India's inclusion as a permanent member of the UNSC. It is an important step in the bilateral relationship. However, the first step would be introducing reforms to the Security Council, which might take a long time. We hope that with the U.S. endorsement for India, the UNSC reforms can be initiated soon."

President Obama also spoke about bringing the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to justice, and said that "terrorist safe-havens within their (Pakistan's) borders are unacceptable." He stressed upon deepening U.S.-India collaboration for nuclear disarmament and securing the world's vulnerable nuclear materials.

USINPAC is a bipartisan organization and the voice of 2.7 million Indian-Americans. It works to impact policy on issues of concern to the Indian-American community in the United States. (ANI)