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Pakistan rejects Indian bid for SC permanent seat
Tanvir Siddiqi
IslamabadPakistan has stressed that any endorsement of the Indian bid for a Security Council permanent seat would have serious implications on the direction and merits of expansion of Security Council that has been under consideration in the UN General Assembly. It will also have negative effects on issues relating to peace and security in South Asia.
This stand was made clear by the Foreign Office here on Friday during a briefing given to the National Assemblys Committee for Kashmir which met under the chairmanship of Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman.
Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat, Special Secretary represented the Foreign Office.
In response to a question from the Committee about prospects of India acquiring a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and possible US endorsement of such a position, the Committee was informed that Pakistans approach on the issue of reform and expansion of the Security Council was based on principles. Pakistan has consistently held the view that such decisions that impact on the global system of inter-state relations based on the Charter require consensus. The spirit and the principles of the Charter should not be compromised. The principle of sovereign equality is a cardinal principle.
Endorsing the candidacy of any one or more states for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council will be at variance with spirit of the Charter and infringe the principles of sovereign equality. Creating a new class of privileged members, with or without veto, is not an option. The issue of the Security Councils expansion cannot be divorced from the broader questions relating to the restructuring of the global system. Pakistan, therefore, opposes expansion in the permanent category and further perpetuation of existing anomalies. This is a principled position the Foreign Office said.
The briefing was given by the Foreign Office on the Committees request, about the forthcoming visit of President Obama to India.
Pakistans view that any two sovereign states are entitled to develop their bilateral relations in a manner and along lines that they deem fit, the Foreign Office reiterated.. The Committee was informed that Pakistan attaches particular importance to its own bilateral relations with the United States, which are progressing in a satisfactory manner. Pakistan seeks to develop mutually-beneficial partnership with the US based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
The Committee was also informed that Pakistan has, in its interaction with the US, emphasized the importance that we attach to regional stability and security. It is Pakistans considered view that anything that militates against the regional balance in South Asia is counter productive and not in the interest of the region and the world.
Pakistan rejects Indian bid for SC permanent seat