ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: Pakistan is opposed to the expansion of the United Nations Security Council in the permanent category and believes India does not qualify to be a member in this category, a Foreign Office spokesman said on Thursday.

Talking to Dawn, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said: “We do not support expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council. No new centres of privilege should be created in the UNSC.”

He said: “The Security Council can be expanded in the non-permanent category to make it more representative and democratic. Such a step will give the developing countries a great say in the decision-making process of the Security Council.” He emphasized that any reform of the UNSC should be based on the principle of sovereign equalities of states and equitable geographic representation.

Rejecting New Delhi’s plea for a permanent seat in the Security Council he said: “Pakistan believes India does not qualify to be a permanent member of the council as it has violated dozens of UNSC resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.”