UNITED NATIONS, June 16: India appears to have given up its bid to secure a permanent seat in the 15-member UN Security Council since it has decided to field career UN diplomat Sashi Tharoor as its candidate for the top job at the United Nations, according to Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram. Speaking to journalists at a luncheon hosted by the UN Correspondents Association, Mr Akram noted that the fact that India had decided to officially endorse a candidate sent “several messages.” The most significant of the messages is that India has abandoned its drive to join the exclusive club of permanent five for lack of support.

On whether Pakistan will also field a candidate of its own, Mr Akram said the government of Pakistan was giving serious consideration to field a candidate for the “highest diplomatic job in the world.”

He said the process was going on for quite some time. But the Indian decision to field a candidate could precipitate a decision in Islamabad as well as in some other capitals of the world.

The ambassador was closely questioned on who would be the candidate from Pakistan. “That decision would be made in Islamabad,” he said.

He said he expected a long list of candidates from Asian countries, saying it would be a tough election for the Security Council to handle.

China, during its one-month rotating SC presidency in April, had made clear the next UN chief should be an Asian.