Global Policy Forum

It was inconceivable that the US, Britain and France would support India's bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council, said Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations Shamshad Ahmad here on Tuesday.

Talking to Dawn, he said the Council's seats were "not for sale". He added that the US, France and Britain could overlook India's track record in terms of consistent violations of the UN charter and the Security Council resolutions.

Mr Ahmad said: "I have seen reports in the Indian media but we are familiar with the Indian media's proclivity of giving twists to reports in a manner that serve the whimsical agenda of the BJP government."

He pointed out that the current debate on the reforms in the Security Council which had lasted several years had shown lack of consensus on the future configuration of the council. He said for any country, including the permanent members of the Security Council, it was premature to commit support to another country's candidature for a permanent seat.

"In fact the very concept of a permanent category of the Security Council membership and the veto powers are being questioned by a majority of the UN members," he added. He said the Pakistan mission at the world body was active in the UN reforms committee meeting and was working in close cooperation with other like-minded members of the UN to forestall any development which would aggravate the undemocratic structure of the Security Council.

He said most members believed that "there is a need to do away with rather than enlarge the centres of powers and privilege". "If you put security council seats on sale then what will happen to the values which provide legal and moral basis to the UN charter?" asked Mr Ahmad.

Pakistan's chief delegate said: "The G-77 group at the UN has taken a position which essentially supports the expansion in the non-permanent category of the council...India should not be under any misconception. The Security Council is under obligation of recent resolutions following India's nuclear tests not to reward India for having nuclearized the South Asian region."

Asked to comment upon the recent NPT review conference, MrAhmad said: "There is no question of Pakistan entering the current debate at the UN." "As a nuclear weapon state we can attend (the NPT conference) if invited as a nuclear weapon state," he added.