January 8, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 23, 1422

NEW DELHI, Jan 7: Britain has promised support for India’s claim for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said on Monday.

Singh told reporters the promise was made by British Prime Minister Tony Blair before he left on Monday for Islamabad at the conclusion of a four-day visit to India.

Singh said Blair assured India that Britain would work with India to clinch the issue of the country’s Security Council membership.

The minister said Britain’s promise along with its support to India’s fight against Pakistan-supported extremism was the most significant outcome of the visit. The British commitment on Security Council membership was embodied in the New Delhi declaration signed on Sunday by Blair and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

“Britain continues to view India as a natural contender for permanent membership of the Security Council and will work with India to achieve it,” the declaration said.

The declaration also envisages enhancing bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.

The declaration, which calls for a “better and safer world”, urges the strengthening of the Britain-India joint working group on terrorism.

After hour-long talks with Vajpayee on Sunday, Blair said he would try to persuade Pakistan to curb terrorist groups operating from there.

He said the Kashmir dispute was a problem which must be resolved bilaterally by India and Pakistan.—dpa