India can get on UN Security Council if global powers agree 'not to touch the veto', says Haley

India can help America in keeping an eye on Pakistan and ensure that it is held accountable for giving safe havens to terrorists, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has said. She also stated that for India to become a permanent member of the Security Council, global superpowers will have to agree to reform the structure of the UN body.

She said that one of the pillars of President Donald Trump's recently announced strategy for combating terrorism in Afghanistan and South Asia is the development of Americas strategic partnership with India.

"Americas overriding interest in Afghanistan and throughout South Asia are to eliminate terrorist safe havens that threaten us. And to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists, we will use all the elements of our national power economic diplomatic and military to pursue these goals," Haley said.

"Critically we will look to our economic and security partnerships with India," the Indian-origin diplomat said in her address at an event organised by the US India Friendship Council. President Trump has taken a "tougher approach to Pakistan harbouring terrorists, she said.

"Pakistan has been a partner to the United States at times. We value and respect that. But, we cannot tolerate this government or any other government giving safe haven to terrorists who target Americans. This new approach will require understanding and restraint from both Pakistan and India," she said.

The US, she said, is looking at India to help it more in Afghanistan particularly in economic and development assistance.

India has already made important contributions to the stability of Afghanistan. "We are really going to need India's help in Afghanistan. They are the good neighbours and partner that we have in the region," she said.

"So, having them help not only with infrastructure and the aide that they can give towards rebuilding Afghanistan, (They can) also help us to keep an eye on Pakistan," Haley said, adding that it would important for making sure that they are held accountable.

"We cant continue to see them harbouring the terrorists. We have to see something change. India is going to witnessing that. India is going to help us with that," Haley said in response to a question.

The Trump administration, she said, is hoping to expand India's contribution in Afghanistan through a deep partnership.

"The partnership between India and America is strong and getting stronger," she said. Responding to a question, Haley said India is a responsible nuclear power.

"Because India is a democracy that threatens no one. The United States and India have both felt the pain of terrorism and we share the commitment of defeating terrorists and the hateful ideology that motivates them," Haley said.

"We want to show the world that yes there are countries that have nuclear weapon, but they are not supposed to act like North Korea. They are not supposed to manage themselves like Iran," she said.

Haley also said there was a plan for her to travel to India by the end of this year. "I would love to go back to India. Its amazing and special for me. I was fortunate to be there a few years ago, for the first time when I was two. And it was as magical as my parents say about it. So I look forward to going back to India," she said.

Moreover, Haley emphasised that the key to India becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council is "not to touch the veto". She went on to identify Russia and China as the two global powers against changes in the current structure of the Security Council.

"This reform of the UN Security Council is much more about the veto. The permanent five (members of the Security Council) have the ability to veto. Russia, China, UK (United Kingdom), US and France and none of them want to give that up. So, the key to getting India on the Security Council would have to be not to touch the veto," Haley said at an event organised on the US Capitol by US India Friendship Council.

US is open to Security Council reform and always have been responding, she said in response to a question from Swadesh Chatterjee, chair of the US India Friendship Council after she delivered her keynote remarks on "The Role of Congress in Promoting US-India Cooperation on International Issues."

Haley said the US Congress or the Senate can't have much role in reforming the Security Council.

"Not really. They really can't. Because members of the Security Council are not going to listen to the Congress on the shape of the Security Council," she observed.

Haley said the US is already on board, but there is need to focus "on Russia and China", the two permanent members of the Security Council who "do not want to see any" changes in the Security Council.

"It's a UN issue, it's going to require UN reform and I think, India has to go and bring together as many supporters as it can in order to really effect that change in the Security Council," Haley said.

For long India has been calling for reform of the UN Security Council.

India and a large number of countries believe that the current UN and its powerful Security Council does not reflect the ground realities of the 21st century.

Last month, foreign minister of G4 countries India, Brazil, Germany and Japan met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to push their case for reform of the Security Council including expansion of its permanent and non-permanent members.

India has also received support from several other multilateral groupings during the current General Assembly session in this regard, including BRICS and IBSA.

Several countries have taken up the floor of general assembly to support India's permanent membership.