Published 12:54 IST, June 16th 2020

Pakistan FM attempts brave face; says 'no issue' if India becomes permanent UNSC member

The foreign minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that it is not an 'issue' even if India is elected as a permanent member in the UN security council

Reported by: Navashree Nandini
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As India is set to be elected as a n-permanent member in  United Nations Security Council (UNSC), foreign minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi has put up a brave fact and claimed that it is t an 'issue' even if India is elected as a permanent member. Pakistani journalist Naila Inayat shared a clip from Quereshi's interview, wherein he said that alrey India has attempted to get seat as a permanent member a number of times and it would make difference to Imran Khan-led nation. He also ded that if India is elected, Pakistan too will be elected as a permanent member - a point that is laughable given that India has at various points has h support of 4 of 5 permanent members, while Pakistan's all-wear friend China remains Imran Khan's only backer.

Qureshi said UNSC was an important forum but India’s n-permanent membership should t be seen as extraordinary because Pakistan h also served at same position previously for seven times.

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On June 5, India's Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar anunced that polls for India's temporary seat in UNSC as a n-permanent member would take place in June. election will take place at United Nations on June 17. India would be contesting for n-permanent member seat whose tenure is of 2 years, beginning from January 2021. India has emerged as single-endorsed candidate from its regional group, amid larger push for country to be me a permanent member of 5-nation apex grouping, currently comprising US, UK, Russia, China and France.

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India's role in UNSC previously

India has been actively pursuing for a permanent membership in United Nations Security Council for years and has received support from four of five permanent members. Barring China, or permanent members of Security Council have backed India to join as a permanent member, including two successive US governments.    

Previously, India has been elected as a n-permanent member of Council for years 1950—1951, 1967—1968, 1972—1973, 1977—1978, 1984—1985, 1991—1992 and most recently in 2011—2012. India has been at forefront of years-long efforts to reform Security Council, saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of Council which in its current form does t represent geo-political realities of 21st Century. Each year General Assembly elects five n-permanent members (out of 10 in total) for a two-year term. 10 n-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis - five for African and Asian States; one for Eastern European States; two for Latin American and Caribbean States; and two for Western European and or States.

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12:48 IST, June 16th 2020