After getting noticeable votes, Pakistan won a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council. It wasn’t just a substantial majority, and they received a whopping 182 votes out of 193 cast, a great sign of international confidence. Their term will begin in January 2025.
Pakistan has been elected to the UN Security Council for a historic eighth term. In Thursday’s vote, Pakistan secured 182 out of 190 votes, well above the required 124 votes for a two-thirds majority.
Out of the 190 votes cast, five countries abstained and three voted against Pakistan. Although the vote was secret, UN diplomats suggest that India, Israel, and Armenia might have opposed Pakistan. Representing the Asia-Pacific group, Pakistan will serve on the Security Council from January 2025 to December 2026.
The Security Council has 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power: the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom. The remaining 10 seats are filled through elections, with each seat allocated to a regional group to ensure global representation.
In a secret vote, these countries got the needed majority of votes from the 193 UN Member States. They will join Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, who are already on the Council.
Alongside Pakistan, the elected members for this term include Denmark, Greece, Panama, and Somalia. These countries will replace Mozambique, Japan, Ecuador, Malta, and Switzerland, whose terms end on December 31, 2024.
Election Details
- Pakistan: 182 votes
- Somalia: 179 votes
- Panama: 183 votes
- Denmark: 184 votes
- Greece: 182 votes
In a statement from Islamabad, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support. “We are grateful to all members of the UN General Assembly for their confidence in Pakistan,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. She also thanked the Asia-Pacific Group for endorsing Pakistan’s candidacy.
Pakistan’s legacy in the Security Council includes contributions to international peace and security, active participation in UN peacekeeping missions, and adherence to the UN Charter’s principles. As a non-permanent member, Pakistan will join the Security Council in making critical decisions, including sanctions and peacekeeping missions, impacting global peace and stability.