UNSC seat for India not linked with NPT: US

WASHINGTON - The United States says it does not see its support for India becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council at odds with New Delhi’s refusal to sign two nuclear treaties.

“Well, we don’t see those as being at odds,” State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley told reporters Tuesday when asked to explain US support for India’s bid despite its refusal to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and

the nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Asked if given President Barack Obama’s interest in removing nuclear weapons from the world, India’s candidature should be looked at par with Japan and South Africa, which have shunned nuclear weapons, he said: “India has shown itself to be a responsible global stakeholder.”

“And the President announced our position on India’s membership in the Security Council. And our support for India is not exclusive of our support for other countries as well,” Crowley said.

But “We are supportive of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,” he said. US had also “encouraged Pakistan to sign on to the Fissile Material Cut-Off Regime.”

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)