NEW DELHI: The United States had denied that a permanent seat for India on the UN Security Council (UNSC) was linked with the situation in Kashmir.

"I don’t see a link between the two," US Government spokesman P J Crowley said.

The statement by the Obama Administration follows similar comments by a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry that there was no link between the two.

Reports here last week quoted US President Barack Obama as saying that a permanent seat on the UNSC to India was linked with the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Sources here, while quoting Mr Crowley as telling reporters in Washington, said the United States wanted to see India and Pakistan work collectively together to resolve tensions regarding Kashmir.

Mr Crowley said India and a number of countries and the US were also interested in UN reform, including reforms within the Security Council.

"Those are conversations which are ongoing with a wide range of countries," he added.

Asked if the Security Council seat would be a big agenda item for Mr Obama when he goes to India in November, Mr Crowley said it was an issue that comes up in the Indo-US dialogue.

He, however, said he could not predict whether the issue would come up during President Obama’s India visit.

"It is an...It is an issue that comes up in our ongoing dialogue with India. I can’t predict whether it will come up in November," he said