UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan was elected to the UN Security Council on Thursday, securing a non-permanent seat for a historic eighth term with an overwhelming 182 out of 190 votes.

There were a total of 190 votes: five abstained, and three voted against Pakistan. The required two-thirds majority to get elected was 124, and Pak­istan received 182 votes.

Since it was a secret ballot, it’s not clear who voted against Pakistan, but some UN diplomats named India, Israel, and Armenia as the countries that opposed Pakistan. Pak­istan will now represent the Asia-Pacific group in the UN Security Council for the next two years — from 2025 to 2026.

Only 10 out of the 15 members of the council are elected, with no election for the five veto-wielding permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States.

Seats on the council are allocated to regional groups to ensure geographical representation. Even uncontested candidates within their group must secure the support of over two-thirds of the General Assembly to win a seat. A candidate chosen by a group is referred to as an “endorsed” candidate.

This year, the regional groups endorsed Somalia for an African seat, Pakistan for an Asia-Pacific seat, Panama for a Latin America and Caribbean seat, and Denmark and Greece for two primarily Western seats.

The five council members elected on Thursday will assume their positions on Jan 1, succeeding those whose two-year terms conclude on Dec 31 — Mozambique, Japan, Ecuador, Malta, and Switzerland.

They will join the five permanent members with veto power and the five countries elected last year — Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia.

Four other members elected on Thursday were: Denmark, Greece, Panama, and Somalia. Denmark received 184 votes, Greece 182, Panama 183, and Somalia 179 votes. As the sole UN body with the authority to make legally binding decisions, including the imposition of sanctions and authorisation of the use of force, the Security Council holds significant global influence.

In a statement issued in Islamabad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “We are grateful to all members of the UN General Assembly for their confidence in Pakistan and for electing it as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.”

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch added: “We are also grateful to the members of the Asia-Pacific Group for endorsing Pakistan’s candidature for the council.”

The FO pointed out that Pakistan brings to the UN Security Council a rich experience and a strong legacy of contributions towards the maintenance of international peace and security. This legacy “is manifested by its strict adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as well as its UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding endeavours across many regions of the world,” it added.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2024