Pak conveys its opposition to India's UNSC bid

Pakistan conveyed to the US administration the parliament's opposition to President Barack Obama's endorsement for India's bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir informed US envoy Cameron Munter about the Pakistani parliament's opposition to America's backing for India's bid to join the UN's most important decision-making body. The move came in the wake of the National Assembly or lower house of parliament adopting a resolution on the issue. "In conformity with the unanimous resolution adopted by the National Assembly on the issue of Security Council reforms, the sense of the parliament, as reflected in the above mentioned resolution, was conveyed to the US administration today," said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

"The Foreign Secretary conveyed this to the US Ambassador and the text of the resolution was also given to the US Embassy in Islamabad," the statement added. The resolution, tabled by a lawmaker of the ruling Pakistan People's Party and passed unanimously by treasury and opposition members, said the US endorsement of India's bid "is a counterproductive move that disregards Pakistan's principled position and sensitivities" related to UN reforms.

It expressed "serious concerns and strong disappointments" on the decision by the US, which it said would have "grave ramifications" for multilateral cooperation and peace, stability and security in South Asia.