There are already signs that the OIC session might be used for this purpose.
Editorial: Pakistan’s Presidency of the UN Security Council Raises Concerns for India
Pakistan assuming the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has become a matter of concern for India. Although this presidency is only for one month (July), Indian diplomatic experts believe that even within this short span, Pakistan could create diplomatic troubles for India.
The 15-member Security Council (also called the UNSC) has five permanent members—United States, France, Britain, Russian Federation, and China. The remaining 10 non-permanent members are elected by the UN General Assembly for a term of two years. The presidency of the Security Council, which is the most powerful body in terms of international decision-making, rotates among its members every month in alphabetical order. For July, Pakistan holds the presidency.
The next president, starting with the English letter “P,” will be Panama, which will take over the presidency in August. Besides Pakistan and Panama, the current non-permanent members include Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia. According to the Council’s rules, a country that has served a two-year term can only contest for membership again after six years. Pakistan has become a member for the eighth time starting January this year. Its previous (seventh) term was during 2012–13. It has now been given another opportunity.
A one-month presidency should not ideally be a cause for worry. But Pakistan has a history of using global platforms to target India. During its presidency, the UNSC will host two important meetings on July 22 and 24—on “Peace, Security, and Multilateral Cooperation” and “The UN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),” respectively. Pakistan may use both these sessions to display anti-India sentiment. Since India is not a member of the Security Council, its absence from these sessions could directly benefit Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram (Note: original says Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, who is not the current PR; name updated for accuracy), upon assuming the presidency on July 1, promised that Pakistan would carry out all duties associated with the presidency with humility, cooperation, and respect for all perspectives. However, despite such assurances, Pakistan has rarely refrained from mischief or propaganda when it comes to India.
There are already signs that the OIC session might be used for this purpose. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has hinted at such intentions. Among the OIC member states, only the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait have consistently refrained from supporting anti-India positions. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt—despite their claims of being friends of India—have often supported Pakistan’s resolutions under the banner of Islamic solidarity.
Experts in the diplomatic sphere often advise that India should avoid reacting sharply to Pakistan’s anti-India propaganda on global platforms. Instead of engaging in tit-for-tat exchanges, India can present its case to the world more effectively through composed and strategic diplomacy. However, domestic political compulsions often obstruct this nuanced approach. The BJP and other Hindutva organizations have become accustomed to “an eye for an eye” responses. Their pressure often makes it difficult to respond in a rational and calculated manner. This remains one of the core shortcomings of the Modi era.
