Pak conveys its “strong disappointment” to UN over ‘US backing for India’s UNSC bid’

UNITED NATIONS - The Pakistan Mission has forwarded to the United Nations the Pakistani Cabinet’s resolution, which says that the US endorsement of India’s bid for its permanent seat in the UN Security Council would have “implications” for peace and stability in South Asia.

According to diplomatic sources, in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday, Pakistan’s acting UN Ambassador Amjad Hussain Sial requested him to circulate the resolution to the member states as a document of the General Assembly and the Security Council, the Daily Times reported.

The resolution, which was adopted on Wednesday at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, “expressed its serious concern and strong disappointment on the decision of the United States to support a permanent seat for India on the UN Security Council.”

Addressing the Indian parliament earlier this week, visiting US President Barack Obama had announced that he looked forward to welcoming India as a permanent member of a reformed UN Security Council.

The US move to back India’s ambitions for an elevated status on the 15-member council has intensified diplomatic activity at the UN, the paper said.

On Monday, the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, which opposes induction of new permanent members to the council, voiced “serious concern” over the US backing of India for a permanent seat after Ambassador Sial briefed its members on the Pakistan government’s stand, it added. (ANI)