After months of intense campaigning, Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on Thursday, securing a massive majority. The election saw Pakistan garner 182 votes in the 193-member General Assembly, well above the required two-thirds majority of 124 votes.
Loud applause filled the General Assembly hall as its president, Dennis Francis, announced the winners of the five non-permanent seats: Pakistan, Denmark, Greece, Panama, and Somalia. These countries will replace Japan, Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland, whose terms end on December 31. Francis congratulated the new members on their victory.
Pakistan will replace Japan in the Asian seat starting January 1, 2025, beginning its eighth term on the Council.
Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, expressed his elation as he emerged from the hall.
Speaking to an APP correspondent, Akram stated, "Pakistan’s election represents the confidence of the international community in Pakistan’s ability to promote the purposes and principles of the UN Charter." He emphasised that Pakistan would work actively with other Council members to advance shared objectives, particularly in preventing and peacefully settling conflicts.
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Pakistan's previous terms on the Council were in 2012-13, 2003-04, 1993-94, 1983-84, 1976-77, 1968-69, and 1952-53. Akram highlighted that Pakistan’s priorities include:
- Promoting peace and security in South Asia
- Upholding the principle of self-determination for the people of Palestine and Kashmir
- Promoting normalisation in Afghanistan
- Seeking equitable solutions to security challenges in Africa
- Enhancing the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations
"Pakistan plans to pay special attention to these areas during its term," Akram added.
As a long-standing contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, Pakistan currently has over 4,000 troops and other personnel deployed worldwide. Over the past 50 years, Pakistan has made significant contributions to international peace and security through its involvement in these missions.
The new non-permanent members will join the five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France — and the five non-permanent members elected last year: Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia.
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