Pakistan’s diplomatic push for UNSC seat gains momentum ahead of tomorrow’s General Assembly meeting

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stepped up lobbying as it vies for a seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), reported state media on Wednesday, with the General Assembly set to meet tomorrow, on June 6, to elect five non-permanent members to the world body’s most significant and powerful institution.
The UNSC comprises 15 countries, five of which are permanent members with veto-wielding authority, including China, France, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom. The council’s primary responsibility is the maintenance of international peace and security.
Pakistan’s previous terms as a non-permanent member arrived in 2012-13, 2003-04, 1993-94, 1983-84, 1976-77, 1968-69 and 1952-53.
“The UNGA is set to meet on Thursday to elect five non-permanent members of the Security Council,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said on Wednesday. “Pakistan and other candidates have stepped up their lobbying activities for a seat.”
The report said the Asian seat was being vacated by Japan this year, adding the countries elected now would serve for two years from Jan 1, 2025, through the end of 2026. Other outgoing countries include Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland whose terms end on December 31, 2024.
The APP said the seven-term candidate Pakistan was likely to get elected unopposed following endorsement by the 53-member Asian group.
“If elected, Pakistan will devote its efforts to promoting the maintenance of international peace and security and the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes per the principles and purposes of the UN Charter,” the news agency quoted Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, as saying.
The voting for the non-permanent members is conducted by a secret ballot and candidates need to receive a two-third majority, or 128 votes, even if they run uncontested. Re-polls are conducted if the required number of polls are not secured by a country.
In the same contest, Somalia and Mauritius are candidates for the African seat, while Denmark and Greece are contesting for the Western European seat.
Panama is the sole candidate for the Latin American seat.