India’s UNSC bandwagon rolls, Pak clutches at straws

Washington: The move to accord Delhi its rightful place at the United Nations Security Council picked up momentum with a resolution introduced in the US House of Representatives which appeals to the UN to take the necessary steps in this regard.

The move comes even as sceptics, within the country and outside, openly doubt the value of the endorsement offered by the United States to India's candidacy for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

The sceptics have expressed a near-unanimous view that Washington's endorsement is ornamental in nature as the process of reforms at the United Nations is too long-drawn for it to be of any practical use.

However, the resolution introduced in the US House of Representatives would appear to fly in the face of these sceptics as it validates the Obama administrations' assertion that it is serious about its strategic initiative with regard to India.

The resolution, introduced by Congressman Gus Bilirakis, highlights India's commitment to global peace and development of the south Asian region.  It seeks to provide a sense of the House of Representatives that the UN should forthwith take the procedural actions necessary to amend Article 23 of the Charter of the United Nations to establish India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Even as the United States begins to make the first moves on its promise to actively pursue the much awaited reforms of the world body - which includes the ascension of India and a few other nations to the UNSCA as permanent members - Pakistan's frustrations are becoming more evident.