UN council seat: Islamabad in bid to get Kyrgyzstan to drop out of race
Khar, acting as a special envoy to the prime minister, is to meet President Roza Otunbayeva and return to Islamabad the same day, officials told The Express Tribune.
Even though Pakistan is confident of winning the seat, Kyrgyzstan has not yet dropped out of the race – ignoring repeated requests to do so in favour of Pakistan, a Foreign Office source said.
Earlier this year Kyrgyzstan rebuffed a plea by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for it to renounce its candidature, arguing that playing a role in world diplomacy was a priority for a fledgling democracy.
Islamabad is willing to offer Kyrgyzstan a token of goodwill if it agrees to withdraw its bid for a seat, the official said.
Meanwhile Pakistan expects India to vote against Kyrgyzstan for the 2012-2013 seat, for which elections are scheduled on October 21. Pakistan had voted for India for the same seat during the 2010-2011 elections as part of a mutual understanding reached between the two countries.
The presence of Indian Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna, along with his delegation, at a reception hosted by Khar in New York last month was taken as a goodwill gesture by Islamabad on Delhi’s part.
Keeping in view US and Nato troops withdrawal from Afghanistan due to take place from 2012 to 2014, it is essential for Pakistan to win the Asian seat of the Security Council, a foreign office official said. It is also essential for Pakistan to secure a UN Security Council office to counter the global hostile environment in the context of the fight against terrorism, he added.
The foreign minister, during her visit to the 66th United Nations General Assembly session, made hectic efforts to win US backing but officials in the foreign office are pessimistic about Washington’s support.
“The five permanent members of the Security Council will not openly support any of the candidates till the last minute,” another official in the foreign office said.
Former Pakistani diplomat Munir Akram is of the view that Kyrgyzstan was in fact sponsored by the United States against Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2011.
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So the dust has settled, and indeed, Pakistan has won the seat!
Kind of two term democracy, three or four term military rule against the UN charter, violated the secular principle of UN body in general assembly, etc..
What is PAK bringing to the UN security council table and why it should be given priority over, say Bolivia, or Chile let alone Kyrgyzstan?
Unless PAK brings her military under strict civilian accountability, PAK seat at SC is tantamount to giving GHQ a seat.
Besides, why should Kyrgyzstan give up her position for PAK. Will PMN give up for PPP?
Let PAK convince the UN general assembly with her world view and policy and get the majority vote.
After all India got 183 votes out of 192 last time.
Mujeeb Athangal : "Islamabad is willing to offer Kyrgyzstan a token of goodwill if it agrees to withdraw its bid for a seat, the official said." Indians are just curious as to what is the token of goodwill ??. Could u throw more light on it?
The token of goodwill is on the way to Kyrgyzstan. Lets see how she is handled.
Indians are feeling something wrong. But hope their govt will support Pakistan.
I don't think pointing out the attempt to buy out Kyrgyzstan's spot is going to help things. Even if it's perfectly acceptable for a country to do something like that, they'd want it a little more private. Politics is a lot of chest thumping and that's a violation in the code of who's is bigger. They have their own peoples opinions to worry about too.
What if Khyrgystan convinces Khar to let Pakistan drop out in it's favour?
The Haqqani Bros also claimed that it is essential for them to secure a UN Security Council office to counter the global hostile environment in the context of the fight against terrorism.
"Islamabad is willing to offer Kyrgyzstan a token of goodwill if it agrees to withdraw its bid for a seat, the official said."
A baksheesh? Bribe? Inducement?
Now this is a BIG EXAM for our Foreign Ministry. Best of luck.
"The presence of Indian Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna, along with his delegation, at a reception hosted by Khar in New York last month was taken as a goodwill gesture by Islamabad on Delhi’s part."
Something rather garbled in this sentence! I would say pay attention to prepositions.
"Even though Pakistan is confident of winning the seat, Kyrgyzstan has not yet dropped out of the race – ignoring repeated requests to do so in favour of Pakistan, a Foreign Office source said."
And what about Krgyz requests to Pakistan to drop out?
"Earlier this year Kyrgyzstan rebuffed a plea by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for it to renounce its candidature,"
So this is an assignment for Pres Zardari and his persuasive skills....not Ms Khar!
Does anyone here remember the Pakistani response to Barack Obama's announcement of Support to a permanent seat of the UNSC?