Pakistan Secures Non-Permanent Seat to UNSC

Iftikhar Ali

United Nations: After months of intense campaigning, Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on Thursday with overwhelming support.

Unopposed, Pakistan received 182 votes out of the 193-member General Assembly, significantly surpassing the required two-thirds majority of 124 votes.

The announcement of the election results by General Assembly President Dennis Francis was met with loud applause in the iconic hall.

The newly elected non-permanent members are Pakistan, Denmark, Greece, Panama, and Somalia, who will replace Japan, Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland, whose terms conclude on December 31. 

Pakistan will take over from Japan in the Asian seat on January 1, 2025, marking its eighth term on the Council.

Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, expressed elation and emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

He highlighted Pakistan’s ambition to contribute to the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts, aligning with the Charter’s goals.

This election is seen as a vote of confidence in Pakistan’s ability to promote international peace and security. 

As it joins the Security Council amid significant global challenges, Pakistan plans to focus on critical international issues during its term.

• Promotion of peace and security in South Asia
• Upholding the principle of self-determination for the people of Palestine and Kashmir
• Promoting normalization in Afghanistan
• Advocating for equitable solutions to security challenges in Africa
• Enhancing the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations

In its previous terms as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, Pakistan has made significant contributions to strengthening international peace and security.

For over 50 years, Pakistan has been a leading contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Missions.

Currently, it has over 4,000 troops and other personnel deployed in UN Peacekeeping Missions worldwide.

The newly elected members will join the five veto-wielding permanent members—United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, and France—and the five non-permanent members elected last year—Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia.