Pakistan Begins Two-Year Term As Member Of Security Council

Islamabad was elected to replace Japan as one of the representatives of the Asia-Pacific region on the Security Council in June last year and officially began its work on January 1 this year.

On Wednesday, January 2, the United Nations Security Council raised the flags of Pakistan, Denmark, Greece, Somalia, and Panama as non-permanent members of the Council.

The ceremony was attended by Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, Additional Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations.

Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported that this is the eighth time that Pakistan has gained membership in the council.

The newspaper also wrote that by becoming a member of the Security Council, Pakistan will also gain a seat on the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, which is responsible for identifying individuals and groups associated with IS and Al-Qaeda as terrorists and imposing sanctions on them.

"This will be a valuable opportunity for Pakistan to highlight cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghanistan by groups linked to the Islamic State militant group and al-Qaeda," the Dawn newspaper wrote.

Pakistan will have more influence in setting the agenda and presenting proposals by becoming a member of the UN Security Council. It is likely that Pakistan will use this position to highlight the threat of terrorism from Afghan soil against Pakistan, especially the threat of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and to illegitimately portray India's sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir.

Islamabad may also try to exert pressure on the Afghan Taliban from this area.

Pakistan's two-year term as a member of the United Nations Security Council ends on December 31, 2026.