United Nations Under Secretary General Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said that the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal will contribute to world peace.
"The deal will help both nations and the world, and help the peace process by minimising the misuse of nuclear power, he told reporters in Palakkad, Kerala.
Asked about fears expressed by certain quarters that the deal will come in the way of India exercising its right for minimum nuclear deterrent, Tharoor, who is on a visit to his hometown, said he was confident that Indian leaders will have taken care of this aspect.
Tharorr said though he was not aware of all the details of the pact, he was
sure that the Indian leaders will have taken care of the national interests involved. Tharoor said it was normal to 'make some give-and-take' in any major agreement.
On India's prospects of gaining a seat in the UN Security Council, he said there were several countries that wanted to be in the Security Council, whose expansion would require changes in the UN Charter.
However, being a nuclear power was no disqualification for India's claim for a Security Council berth. Asked if he will continue in his present UN job even after having failed the bid for the Secretary General's post, Tharoor said he will decide on that question next month.