ON BOARD THE PM'S SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: Accusing "some big powers" of delaying the process of reforming the United Nations Security Council, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said a U.N. structure which reflected the realities of 1945 would never allow the international system to face up to contemporary political challenges.

"If there is to be a reform of the Security Council," Dr. Singh told reporters en route to India after a five-day tour of Britain and Finland, "there is growing support for the view that countries like India must find their place. But having said that, I would like to say that those in power do not like to give up power and, therefore, I think some big powers have not made up their mind." This was why the process of reform still had a long way to go, he added.

Credible evidence

Asked how Pakistan might respond to Indian evidence of cross-border links to last July's terrorist bombings in Mumbai, the Prime Minister said there was no use talking about this until the evidence India had was actually handed over. "We will provide credible evidence in all the cases where we feel that there is involvement of elements in Pakistan's establishment ... If we have not given them evidence, how can we test them?"

Dr. Singh said he had read "parts" of Gen. Pervez Musharraf's just-published memoirs, but he did not wish to discuss its contents. "It is a very interesting book ... [But] India and Pakistan have to do business with each other. Mr. Musharraf is the President of Pakistan and therefore I won't like to comment on the contents."

Both the European Union and Britain appreciated India's stand "that you cannot have a situation where terrorist acts are justified by invoking the so-called root causes," the Prime Minister said.

Victims since 1989

"The world [may] have discovered terrorism after 9/11 but we have been victims since at least 1989. There is, therefore, today strong support for India's plea that foreign territories be not used to launch, aid or abet terrorist acts directed at our country."

On the India-United States nuclear deal, Dr. Singh said India had no control over the legislative process in the U.S. but had received assurances from the Bush administration "that they are very serious, that they will use their influence with Congress to ensure it quickly goes through."

As for the Nuclear Suppliers group, he said Indian officials had discussed the deal with many of its members during the 45-nation group's meeting in Vienna earlier this week and "there is growing support for India's case"

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