On 1 January 2025, Pakistan will begin its eighth two-year term as an elected non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), replacing Japan for the Asian seat.
Upcoming Members of UNSC
- This development is significant as nearly half of the 10 elected members for the 2025-26 term will come from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
- Newly Elected States: The newly elected countries are Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia, replacing Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland as their terms end on 31 December.
- Existing Member-States: The new members will join Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, who are current non-permanent members.
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United Nations Security Council
- The Security Council is made up of fifteen member states, consisting of five permanent members (P5) – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly on a regional basis.
- The P5 have “Veto power” which refers to the power of the permanent member to veto (Reject) any resolution of the Security Council.
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Pakistan’s Priorities and Focus Areas
- Afghanistan: One of Pakistan’s immediate priorities during its term will likely be Afghanistan, with the country seeking to repair its strained relations with the Taliban.
- Recognition of Taliban: With the support of Russia and China, Pakistan is expected to push for the diplomatic rehabilitation of the Taliban.
- Challenge: It will not be easy for Pakistan to achieve this, as the Taliban’s lack of inclusivity may hinder its recognition, facing opposition from other nations.
- Gaza Ceasefire: With the backing of OIC countries, Pakistan may advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and seek to salvage the Palestinian issue in the UNSC.
- Advantage for Pakistan: By advocating for Gaza, Pakistan seeks to gain sympathy and enhance its soft power among Islamic nations.
- Peacekeeping Efforts: Pakistan is a significant troop-contributing country to UN peacekeeping missions, and it will continue to prioritize peacekeeping efforts during its time in the UNSC.
- Advantage for Pakistan: Given its historical commitment to peacekeeping, Pakistan is likely to emphasize this in its diplomatic agenda to repair its image and counter the perception of being a “terrorist state.”
What India Can Expect from Pakistan’s UNSC Term?
- Anti-India Initiatives: Pakistan will likely use its position to pursue initiatives against India, particularly with the support of its allies within the OIC.
| Despite some behind-the-scenes negotiations, enhanced bilateral cooperation does not automatically lead to better multilateral cooperation, particularly in the UN. Even countries with close relations with India, such as some OIC members, support Pakistan’s drafts in the UN that include anti-India language. |
- Terrorism Narrative: Pakistan’s primary focus in the UNSC is to combat terrorism, hoping this will help shed its “terrorist state” label. It often attempts to accuse India of being involved in terrorism, despite Pakistan’s own history of hosting terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which are listed under UNSC Resolution 1267.
- Efforts to Blame India: Pakistan regularly presents “dossiers” to the UN, accusing India of terrorism against Pakistan. This is a strategy to keep anti-India sentiments alive in the international community.
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| India’s Success in UNSC Sanctions
During India’s time on the UNSC in 2021-22, a proposal led by India and the United States to list Pakistani terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki, the deputy leader of LeT, under UNSC Resolution 1267 was approved, including by China. This marked a significant diplomatic victory for India. |
- List Indian Hindus as Terrorists: Pakistan also tried to label Indian Hindus as terrorists in the UNSC, but its attempts were rejected twice.
- These efforts were seen as part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to undermine India’s image internationally. continue its efforts to introduce anti-India rhetoric into the UNSC discussions.
Kashmir Issue
- Persistent Agenda on Kashmir: After India’s abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Pakistan pushed for discussions on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) within the Council.
- Views of P5: Although the P-5 members have shown little interest in making J&K a major issue in the UNSC, Pakistan will likely continue to use its UNSC membership to raise the matter, particularly with the support of China.
- Challenge Faced by Pakistan: With the recent elections in J&K and the establishment of a popular government, Pakistan will face challenges in garnering significant international support for its claims.
| Shaksgam Valley
The Shaksgam valley, a trans-Karakoram tract, is a strategically key region that is part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It was ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963, a year after the India-China war.
India’s Stand: It is a part of the territory of India and India never accepted the so-called China Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963 through which Pakistan unlawfully attempted to cede the area to China, and have consistently conveyed her rejection of the same. |
| What is Islamophobia?
Islamophobia is the fear, prejudice, and hatred of Muslims, leading to hostility and intolerance. It can involve threatening, harassment, abuse, and intimidation of both Muslims and non-Muslims, online and offline.
Islamophobia and Pakistan’s Diplomatic Tactics
- Use of Islamophobia as a Weapon: Pakistan has made efforts to introduce Islamophobia as a justification for terror. Pakistan has used Islamophobia as a tool to shift focus from terrorism and, more recently, to target India.
- For Instance: In 2021 and 2023, during discussions on the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GTS), Pakistan, supported by the OIC, tried to use Islamophobia as a justification for terrorism.
- India’s Reaction: India opposed this and successfully had the reference removed.
- After India’s UNSC Term: However, after India left the UNSC at the end of 2022, the UAE and other OIC countries included Islamophobia in the UNSC Presidential statement in February 2023.
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Misusing UNSC Seat
- Indus Water Treaty: Pakistan recently raised the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty in the UNSC, despite it being a bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan brokered by the World Bank.
- This move was widely viewed as an attempt to use the UNSC for domestic political purposes, and it is likely that Pakistan will continue to misuse the UNSC for such purposes during its term.
- India’s Stint: During its term from 2021-22, India played a strong and positive role in strengthening international peace and security.
- “Arria Formula”: While many UNSC members misuse “Arria formula” meetings (informal meetings bypassing the Council), India avoided this and focused on its priorities. Pakistan, however, is unlikely to exercise the same restraint.
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Common Interest Between India and Pakistan
- It is unfortunate that Pakistan overlooks the potential for multilateral cooperation with India on key UN issues.
- Both countries share common interests in areas like
- UN peacekeeping (as major troop contributors)
- Combating climate change (as both face severe climate-induced disasters),
- Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030,
- Addressing the Global South’s debt burden,
- Reforming multilateral financial institutions.
- Yet, even basic functional contacts with Indian diplomats are often discouraged by Pakistan’s Mission.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s political instability, economic struggles, and misplaced priorities have hindered its support for multilateralism. While its UNSC term may focus on anti-India rhetoric, it remains unclear how effectively Pakistan will gain support from other UN members.
December 13, 2024
