News Desk |
India has been unanimously endorsed as a non-permanent member of the United Security Council after all fifty-five of the Asia-Pacific groups, including Pakistan, voted in India’s favor in the absence of another candidate on Tuesday.
India’s candidature has been strongly endorsed for the seat of a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with a two-year tenure, and the announcement came in a tweet by India’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin.
Ambassador Akbaruddin tweeted, “A unanimous step. Asia-Pacific Group at the United Nations unanimously endorses India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2 year term in 2021/22. Thanks to all 55 members for their support”.
The voting process of India’s selection will be held in June 2020, giving Pakistan a platform to vote in favor or against India’s selection.
Ambassador Akbaruddin’s tweet also included a video announcing the names of all the countries that supported India’s candidature, with a message of thanks to New Delhi’s supporters.
A unanimous step.
Asia-Pacific Group @UN unanimously endorses India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat of the Security Council for 2 year term in 2021/22.
Thanks to all 55 members for their support. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/ekNhEa19U1
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) June 26, 2019
The voting process for this position will occur in the UN General Assembly in 2020.
India’s unopposed candidacy was endorsed by fifty-five countries of the UN’s Asia-Pacific group, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Myanmar, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos and others.
Why did Pakistan Support India?
Pakistan is a member of the Asia-Pacific group, and hence, Indian diplomats and media houses began airing claims about Pakistan’s support to India’s nomination for the UNSC non-permanent member seat. Analysts explain that the process of an uncontested election is such that it obtains an automatic endorsement from all members of the regional group.
Read more: How did India become a member of UN human rights body?
Since Pakistan is a part of the Asia-Pacific group, it simply followed through with the process and endorsed the candidature of India. The voting process of India’s selection will be held in June 2020, giving Pakistan a platform to vote in favor or against India’s selection.
Raza Ahmed Rumi, Pakistani policy analyst and journalist, in a series of tweets, explained the dynamics of standard practices at the United Nations.
Rumi said, “When there is an uncontested candidate from any regional group, in this case India from the Asia Pacific Group, the Group (to which Pakistan also belongs) automatically endorses that candidate. That is standard practice at the UN.”
When there is an uncontested candidate from any regional group, in this case India from the Asia Pacific Group, the Group (to which Pakistan also belongs) automatically endorses that candidate.That is standard practice at UN. https://t.co/nySWj1EDUM
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 27, 2019
Raza Rumi then explained that countries of the Asia Pacific Group, including India, had earlier supported Pakistan’s candidature to recent UN elections for the Vice President ECOSOC, Member Committee on Contributions and UNICEF Executive board.
Pakistan’s candidature was endorsed by Asia Pacific group (which includes India) to these recent elections:
-Vice Pres ECOSOC,
-Member Committee on Contributions &
-UNICEF executive board.— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 27, 2019
Rumi concluded, “For the term 2003-4, Pakistan was also the endorsed candidate by the Asia Pacific group for Security Council election in 2002. India is a member of the group.”
For the term 2003-4, Pakistan was also the endorsed candidate by the Asia Pacific group for Security Council election in 2002. India is a member of the group. #SecurityCouncil
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 27, 2019
Dr. Claude Rakisits, strategic analyst focused on Afghanistan and Pakistan, stated that this process was “nothing unique” and India and Pakistan have supported each other in this manner in the past.
Dr. Claude tweeted, “As opposed to WEOG, Asia-Pacific group always agree on a UNSC candidate. Accordingly, India has supported Pakistan for a non- permanent seat for the UNSC. They’ve each been on the UNSC about 7 times each.”
That’s great. But nothing unique. As opposed to WEOG, Asia-Pacific group always agree on a UNSC candidate. Accordingly, India has supported #Pakistan for a non- permanent seat for the UNSC. They’ve each been on the UNSC about 7 times each. https://t.co/nGhmCfbcAa
— Dr Claude Rakisits (@ClaudeRakisits) June 26, 2019
The United Nations Security Council has allocated 10 seats for non-permanent members of the UNSC, which have been divided into five regional groups. Given the magnanimous geographic expanse, the members in the Asia-Pacific Group lag behind on coordination.
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The group has been allocated two seats, and due to the practices of rotation, one of these seats ends up being vacant each year. As per tradition, members of the Asia-Pacific group, particularly South Asian states, rarely rival each other’s candidature, the only exception occurred in 1975, when India and Pakistan contested for the same seat and Pakistan won after eight rounds of votes. Pakistan plans to run for the non-permanent seat in 2024.