ISLAMABAD: Pakistan got elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday after securing 182 votes in the 193-member General Assembly, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said, with the country’s leadership vowing Islamabad would play its role in promoting peace, cooperation and stability in the world. 

The world body voted on Thursday to elect five countries to serve two-year terms on the council. The 10 non-permanent seats on the 15-member council are allotted to regional groups who usually select their candidates but sometimes cannot agree on one. 

This time, the regional groups put forward Somalia for an African seat, Pakistan for an Asia-Pacific seat, Panama for a Latin America and Caribbean seat, and Denmark and Greece for two mainly Western seats.

“After months of hectic campaigning, Pakistan Thursday was elected, with a massive majority, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the world body’s power center, pledging to make its contribution in meeting the grave challenges facing the world,” APP said. 

Pakistan will replace Japan, which currently occupies the Asian seat, on Jan. 1, 2025 to begin a two-year term. Pakistan’s earlier terms on the UNSC were in 2012-13, 2003-04, 1993-94, 1983-84, 1976-77, 1968-69 and 1952-53.

“Indeed, this is a proud moment,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement shared by his office. “Being elected as a member of the United Nations for 2025-26 with 182 votes is a testament to our nation’s commitment to peace and security.”

The Pakistani premier vowed that Islamabad would work with the international community to address global challenges facing the world. 

“We will continue to play our role in promoting peace, stability, and cooperation among the nations of the world,” he said. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan looks forward to upholding its commitment to the UN charter’s vision of preventing war and promoting peace. 

“We remain determined to contributing effectively toward the maintenance of international peace and security in line with UNSC’s mandate,” Dar wrote on social media platform X. 

The new members will join the five veto-wielding permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France — and the five countries elected as non-permanent members last year — Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.