India says a seat on the council would reflect the importance of the G20 nation as its trillion dollar economy helps spur global growth and its government exerts more and more influence over issues from Doha trade to climate change talks.
"In the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed United Nations Security Council that includes India as a permanent member," Obama said in a speech to India's Parliament on his first official visit to the world's largest democracy.
"Let me suggest that with increased power comes increased responsibility," he added at the end of the first leg of a 10-day Asian tour that has also been seen about gathering support from countries like India to exert pressure on China on its currency.
Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser, said ahead of Obama's speech that "this was a full endorsement" for India's permanent membership of a reformed Security Council.
The UN seat could be a pipe dream for India and face resistance from some of the UN Security Council's five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. But it is Obama's most headline-grabbing announcement in a visit that has seen the US leader seek greater trade with India's massive yet underdeveloped and restricted markets as well as to help counterbalance the rise of China.
Among the first to object to Obama's endorsement of India's UN bid was the country's archenemy Pakistan. A statement issued by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Obama's remarks added to the complexity of the process of reforms of the council. It cited India's continued disregard for UN Security Council resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir coming in the way of Delhi's aspirations for the grant of a permanent seat on the council.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said: "Pakistan hopes that the US will take a moral view and not base itself on any temporary expediency or exigencies of power politics."
Obama also warned that India would have to take a more responsible role in international affairs, such as pressuring Myanmar to embrace democracy. "India has often shied away from some of these issues. But speaking up for those that cannot do so for themselves is not interfering in the affairs of other countries."
The West is increasingly dependent on India and China to power their moribund economies. It was unclear how much Delhi would reciprocate to Obama's plea for opening its economy more to foreign firms.
"I don't think India is emerging. It has emerged. India is a key actor on the world stage," Obama told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier Monday.
The US leader also said he was ready to play "any role" requested by India and Pakistan to foster peace between them. He said that while both India and Pakistan have an interest in reducing tensions in the region, the US "cannot impose a solution to these problems."
Singh appeared to rebuff calls by the US president for the nuclear foes to move forward on peace talks. "You cannot simultaneously be talking and at the same time the terror machine is as active as ever before," Singh said.
Obama criticized Pakistan over its failure to clamp down on militants. "We will continue to insist to Pakistan's leaders that terrorist safe havens within their borders are unacceptable and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks be brought to justice," he said.
