Pakistan becomes member of UN Security Council for next two years

Pakistan has started the new year by joining the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a two-year term as a non-permanent member.

As Pakistan embarked on the term, it is important to note that this is the country’s eighth term on the council.

Pakistan is replacing Japan with the formal election taking place back in June 2024. 

Additionally, Pakistan occupies one of the two Asia-Pacific seats on the Security Council.

Pakistan will get the chance to preside over the council in July, which is a key opportunity to set the agenda and foster dialogue on a global platform.

Furthermore, the membership will also help secure a seat on the Islamic State and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, which performs the role of designating individuals and groups associated with the extremist organisations as terrorists and imposing sanctions on them.

As per the UN’s rule book, i.e. the UN Charter, only permanent members hold veto power in the council.

However, non-permanent members can influence terrorism-related sanctions committees significantly, where decisions are made by consensus under established norms.

This will provide Pakistan with an opportunity to highlight cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghanistan by the terrorist groups associated with the militant Islamic State group and Al Qaeda.

In a ceremony held at UNSC, the Pakistani flag was hoisted by the country's Permanent Representative at the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmed. While addressing the ceremony, he said that Pakistan will continue to raise a voice for the innocent and the oppressed. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar told the media, “Pakistan will collaborate with all UN member states to uphold the principles of the UN Charter, prevent war, promote peace, foster global prosperity and ensure universal respect for human rights.”

Delivering his remarks at a reception hosted for Islamabad-based envoys to mark the beginning of Pakistan’s term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for 2025-2026, he affirmed Pakistan's commitment to multilateralism,  international law, peaceful settlement of disputes and friendly relations with countries around the world.