India: UNSC seat.

Byline: S. Babar - Karachi

INDIA`s election to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a nonpermanent member has raised an unnecessary storm. We must acknowledge that there was nothing we could have done to prevent New Delhi from attaining this coveted honour.

India had lobbied intensely with the result that it gathered 184 votes out of 192 votes polled. The point to be noted is how Pakistan`s isolation in the world has continued to increase since 1975 when we had contested against India and won that hard-fought election which required seven rounds of voting.

At that time, three countries: Pakistan, Philippines and India filed their candidacy.

In the first round, India with 60 votes was one vote ahead of Pakistan. As the minimum votes required for a win was then 89, there was a re-poll. At that point, Philippines dropped out limiting the contest to two.

The process continued for another six rounds with Pakistan taking a substantial lead in each of these rounds with 58 versus 78 in the seventh round but still less than the required number of 89. At that stage other members intervened and persuaded India to withdraw and thus Pakistan emerged as the winner.

Pakistan`s win that year was no mean achievement...