Pakistan hopes to join India on UN council
Elections for two-year terms -- this time running from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013 -- on the Security Council are held on the basis of regional ballots. Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan are vying for a single seat available to the Asia-Pacific group.
India joined the council this year and will stay through 2012. India and Pakistan have fought three wars, mainly over Kashmir, since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
The last time the two nuclear-armed states served together on the council was in 1977. UN diplomats said they do not expect any regional tension if Pakistan joins.
The two countries' ambassadors are "best friends" and their positions on many issues are quite similar, a senior Western diplomat said on Wednesday.
Pakistan, a UN member state since 1947, has already served six terms on the council. Kyrgyzstan, which joined the United Nations in 1992, has never been on the council.
Both countries have been criticized by human rights advocates for rights abuses. Kyrgyzstan was embroiled in a major civil conflict last year.
There are five veto-holding permanent members of the Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- and 10 temporary elected members without vetoes.
Diplomats said it was difficult to say what next year's council will look like due to uncertainty about Friday's election. It is possible that a new council member like Pakistan would join Russia and China in resisting renewed US and European pressure to sanction nations like Syria and Iran.
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@Umair: @CommonSense:
First of all I am a Pak citizen and if critical thinking and self-critique classifies me as an Indian, I do not take an offense to that. Most Indians are great human beings and I have many Indian friends both Muslims and non-Muslims, who have been very dear to me.
However, there are hate mongers on either side, who are expert in classifying others with various attributes.
These people are a disgrace to the Sub-Continent.
@goggi:
Only an experienced person like you can give the stats like you have given :) By the way, how it relevant to the article ???
The structure of the UN-Security Council is dated and needs to be reformed. The veto power of the five permanent members is absolute and one country can prevent the adoption of a resolution. This practice is dictatorial and abusive, hence winning unanimity is a game of lobbying and politicking.
@ashok sai: He that is without sin, cast the first stone - Holy Bibel, John chapter 8 - verse 7
Every 3 minutes a case of violence against a woman is registered in your country, every 29 minutes a woman is raped and every 29 minutes a raper is born! Are rapers not the worst terrorists?
@Pundit: Pundit jee, plz leave us and focus on cleaning the increasing corruption in your country
@Umair: are you an indian?
You might as well get a front row seat - suspect many of the discussions in the UNSC in the next 3 years are going to be focused on Pakistan.
@Aristo: what would your interest, when you are an indian? @kirmani: Like most indians commenting on a Pakistani news forum with fake ids, don't know why most indians commenting here?????
@Aristo How about you Indians dedicate time to addressing your own local issues of corruption and poverty alleviation, and holding your own politicians accountable, rather than visiting ET to make noise just for the sake of it? Why are you all so obsessed with us people? Clearly you guys are the ones behaving like outcasts
Pak has already served six terms on the council, what will be achieved this time that could not be achieved in the last six times. Dedicate your energies and resources towards more meaning full issues rather than acting like a an insecure outcast.
@Diggvijay Singh:
You are a patritotic Pakistani and your patrotism is very welcome. Why don't you use your real name?
How can Pakistan be voted into the Security Council? Pakistan doesn't enforce UN resolutions, it flouts them. The biggest example, hiding OBL for years while there was a resolution against it.
Quest for parity with India - is aheady feeling for Pakistan, Alas it shall always be a mirage and Pakistan shall run and spent all its energy in that pursuit
Khuda Hafiz
Kallu Mama
@Mirza and Indian Trolls Oh please cut out the sanctimonious whining. The UNSC is a realpolitik based body of nations, not the College of Cardinals, that we have to drag Pakistan's record. What about Indian violation of human rights in Kashmir, Assam and other parts of its country and its refusal to uphold past UNSC resolutions. As for terrorism, India has its own share of home-grown terrorists both Hindu and Muslims, that it has been brushing under the carpets. Do Indian trolls want to reminded about Tehelka exposes on Indian extremists. Its not just India, most countries on the UNSC have their own share of violations of human rights and international, including ALL the veto-holding countries. Russia has a poor record against journalists, China brutally cracks down on dissent and US is probably the biggest terrorist of all bypassing the UNSC inorder to invade Iraq.
@mirza:it seems you have a tendency to comment on every thing,you speak as if other south asian countries were richest ones in the world.people of pakistan are living a better life as compared to other third world countries, you should check facts before commenting on any thing.
@Observer: Pakistan deserves as it sacrifices a lot in the war on terror
@Aamer: which country doesn't see its benefit ???? what india is doin in afghanistan, while its borders not attached to afghanistan
@Diggvijay Singh: Are you serious? There would have been no need for a "war on terror" if your agencies had handed over the culprits instead of protecting and training them.
Watch out for a war of words in the UN.
@ashok sai:
You are wrong about that. Terrorists being caught on its soil after Pakistan enters the Security Council would elevate the status and credibility of the UNSC in the eyes of the world showing its eternal vigil and steadfast determination in combating global terrorism. There is no other country which can catch so many terrorists.
How ironic, as if india has not done severe rights violations in indian-held kashmir for the past 6 decades. This is quintessentially hypocritic.
@Mirza: So just because someone wants to walk (s)he not allowed to chew a gum? How's that poverty and temp sit in UNSC related?
Had you said Pakistan should grow its economy and eradicate poverty and then, as a deserving nation, seek a permanent place in UNSC, I would have agreed with you...
@Mirza:
"When are we going to campaign for alleviation of poverty in Pakistan with this same zeal? Pakistan can sit in UNSC or any other organization but it is still be a poor third world country that is not taking care of its citizens and their basic needs despite having a huge assortment of expensive war toys."
As soon as we change our declared policy of "eating grass in order to obtain and accumulate more and more nukes and F-16s".
So China wants to duplicate their membership? China will never favor/support any country unless she see a benefit or opportunities
Pakistan is a front line state in the global war on terror. Its army has made uncountable sacrifices for peace, prosperity and stability of South Asia, especially Afghanistan and also worked for the betterment of African continent. Pakistan not only deserves to be a temporary member of the UNSC, it should be considered for a permanent spot in the council with veto power along with Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. The world needs Pakistan to have a firm hold on global affairs more than Pakistan needs it for itself.
Vienna,20-10-2011 REAUTERS news is speculative. Wait, report the imeediate past not future.Or is it insider trading? Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
If Pakistan got elected to the council and another super terrorist caught on Pakistani soil, UN security council will look like a punch of jokers !
When are we going to campaign for alleviation of poverty in Pakistan with this same zeal? Pakistan can sit in UNSC or any other organization but it is still be a poor third world country that is not taking care of its citizens and their basic needs despite having a huge assortment of expensive war toys.