Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Criticizes India's UN Membership Bid

Strategic Insights -

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his opposition to India's bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stating that India has not complied with UN resolutions on Kashmir. This conversation took place during a phone call with US President Barack Obama, who also indicated that New Delhi would soon re-engage with Islamabad. Sharif also brought up Pakistan's case for membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and briefed Obama on the country's anti-terror operation, Zarb-e-Azb.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has publicly criticized India's bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, citing non-compliance with UN resolutions on Kashmir.
  • US President Barack Obama expressed support for a reformed UNSC with India as a permanent member during his visit to India last month, but also discussed re-engagement between India and Pakistan with Sharif.
  • The phone call between Obama and Sharif lasted almost half-an-hour and covered a range of issues, including Pakistan's anti-terror operation and the country's bid for NSG membership.
  • India has not been officially notified of its exclusion from the NSG, despite US representatives expressing optimism about its prospects for membership.
  • Pakistan's Zarb-e-Azb operation has been a key focus of the country's anti-terror efforts, with Sharif briefing Obama on its progress during their call.

Statistics:

  • The phone call between Obama and Sharif lasted 29 minutes.
  • The US has expressed support for a reformed UNSC with India as a permanent member.
  • India has expressed interest in joining the NSG, but its application has yet to be officially processed.
  • Pakistan's Zarb-e-Azb operation has been ongoing since June 2014 and has resulted in the death of thousands of militants.
  • The minimum number of votes required for NSG membership is uncertain, but India reportedly needs the support of at least 48 member states to secure a spot on the group.

Sources:

  • "Pakistan PM tells US: India doesn't deserve permanent UNSC seat" - Hindustan Times, February 14.