Jordan backs India’s UNSC seat bid

K V Prasad 

Tribune News Service

AMMAN, OCTOBER 10 

Jordan today strongly came out in support of India in its quest for a seat in the expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a significant development considering that the West Asia was seen as part of the Consensus Group.

King Abdullah of Jordan conveyed the stand to President Pranab Mukherjee, who arrived here on the first-leg of a three-nation historic visit to West Asia. President Mukherjee said he was happy that a first-ever visit by an Indian Head of the State to this country in 65 years was happening under his presidentship.

The October 10-12 tour of the President addresses concern by Jordan about the absence of a VIP visit to the country after King Abdullah and Queen Rania visited India in 2006.

In fact, Jordan had pointed out when its Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Sami Judeh told Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in March this year that the perception in Amman was that India had been somewhat lukewarm in its approach towards the country and could be corrected with a VIP visit.

The President met King Abdullah in the delegation-level talks and both leaders also discussed greater cooperation in counter-terrorism and defence. Secretary (East) Anil Wadhwa said Jordan was ideally situated as it is in the forefront of the fight against terror tackling threats from the likes of Boko Haram.

On the issue of 39 Indians abducted by the Islamic State in July last year from Mosul, Wadhwa said while it did not come up, India had been talking to countries in the region and would continue to do so.

India extended $100 million Line of Credit to Jordan. Responding to India's concern over treatment of its workers who are engaged in textiles and construction sector, King Abdullah promised to set up a mechanism in the royal court to address the problem.