UNITED NATIONS, Jan 1: Pakistan along with Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco and Togo assumed seats on Sunday as new non-permanent members of the 15-nation UN Security Council.

The Security Council has five permanent members – Britain, China, France, Russia and the US – and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms from five different regions of the world.

Pakistan will replace Lebanon which has completed its two-year term on the Asian seat.

Pakistan has previously served in the Security Council in 1952-53, 1968-69, 1976-77, 1983-84, 1993-94 and 2003-04.

It will be the fourth time Pakistan’s term will overlap with India’s, as it did in 1968, 1977 and 1984.

Under the UN Charter, the Security Council, the most powerful UN body, has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Lebanon, Nigeria, Gabon, Bosnia and Brazil ended their terms on the council on Sunday. The five temporary members who will remain through 2012 are Colombia, Germany, India, Portugal and South Africa.