Brown backs India on UNSC after meeting Musharraf

In a rebuff to Pakistan, British PM Gordon Brown asserts his country's support for India's claim to a permanent seat in UNSC.

In a rebuff to Pakistan, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday asserted his country's support for India's claim to a permanent seat in an expanded United Nations Security Council.

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"It is part of the British policy that in the reformed UN Security Council, India must have a place. It is something not only about India, but also about other countries," Brown said at a joint press conference with visiting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf after their hour-long meeting at 10, Downing Street on Monday afternoon.

During his visit to India early this month, Brown had vocally supported India on the issue.

Pakistan has been vehemently opposing India's claim to a permanent UNSC seat. Asked about the British prime minister's support, a Pakistani spokesman had said Islamabad was opposed to such an expansion.

Pakistan, spokesman said, is "an active member of the Uniting for Consensus Group which opposes expansion in the permanent category", adding "we are against the creation of new centres of privilege.