ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday said Islamabad had blocked New Delhi’s bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
One of the six principal organs of the UN, the UNSC comprises powerful countries as its permanent members who are tasked with maintaining international peace and security. The Council also comprises 10 non-permanent members that are elected for a two-year term by the UN General Assembly.
Currently, Russia, China, UK, US and France are the five permanent members of the Council.
India has been at the forefront of a years-long struggle to reform the UNSC, saying that it deserves a place as a permanent member of the Council. However, Pakistan has opposed India’s bid to become the UNSC’s permanent member.
Last month, Pakistan’s foreign ministry rejected media reports that FM Bhutto-Zardari— in a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken— assured him that Islamabad would not oppose India’s bid to become a permanent member of the UNSC.
“Pakistan thwarts India’s bid for permanent seat in UNSC,” Bhutto-Zardari said in a tweet, quoting an English daily ‘The Nation.’
“Pakistan’s position on permanent membership in the United Nations was recognized, while, the Arab League and the African Union also supported Pakistan’s position,” The Nation reported.
Last month, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said Islamabad supported a “comprehensive reform” of the UNSC that would make it more democratic, representative, transparent, effective and more accountable to the UN membership.
He had said that Pakistan would support a reformed Council that corresponds to the interests of the large majority of member states and not just a few, and any expansion in the permanent category of membership does not conform to these principles of reform.