WikiLeaks: US criticises Pakistan opposition at UN

Former US ambassador to UN not happy with Pakistan's differing position on US interests.

The United States (US) had expressed concern at Pakistan’s differing position at the United Nations (UN) on US interests, revealed a previously unreleased WikiLeaks cable.

The cable written by former US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton and dated June 6, 2006 (reference no. 66945), places Pakistan along with India, Brazil and South Africa and calls it “one of a handful of countries” routinely opposing the US, despite having strong ties with the country.

Bolton notes that Pakistan uses its membership in the G-77, NAM and OIC to “project its views and achieve greater influence at the UN than its standing in the international community would otherwise suggest”.

The former ambassador adds that the positions Pakistan takes to gain favour with other member states often places it in the opposite direction to US policies, and that the country’s behavior at the UN reflects its rivalry with India and blocking a permanent security council seat for it.

Pakistan’s actions at the UN may embolden other member states to oppose U.S. positions when they see a friend of the U.S. doing the same with impunity.  (The fact that despite all this the U.S. provides to Pakistan annual assistance that is nearly twice the amount of our entire annual assessed contribution to the UN is not lost on many.)

Cable Referenced: WikiLeaks no. 66945

The full text of the cables can be read on Dawn.com, The Hindu andNDTV. WikiLeaks has previously released cables to other media organisations including Guardian and the New York Times.