Kashmir Resolution Was Hindered By Use of Veto, Says Pakistan

Pakistan believes ideally veto should be abolished, says Pakistan envoy to United Nations

Pakistan envoy to UN uses Kashmir as excuse to oppose extension of veto power in security council. (Photo: The Quint)

The use of veto in the United Nations Security Council prevented a resolution of the Kashmir dispute and hindered implementation of UN resolutions on the issue, said Pakistan.

Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi reiterated the country’s opposition to adding new permanent members to the council with or without a veto.

She said that any privileged role in decision-making would contradict the shared goal of making the Security Council more democratic, representative and accountable. She added that Pakistan considers veto as an important issue that needed to be tackled as part of a comprehensive reform of the Security Council.

Pakistan supports expansion of the Security Council only in the non-permanent category. Pakistan does not support any proposal that aims to defer consideration of this key issue. Pakistan believed that ideally the veto should be abolished.

Maleeha Lodhi, UN Ambassador, Pakistan

The envoy warned the UN that if the values of the 21st century like democracy, equal opportunity and non-discrimination were ignored in reforming the council, there would be grave risk of making the United Nations a “Divided Nations”.

Referring to the previous debates, Lodhi said much emphasis was placed on the effectiveness of the council and its decision-making.

If today the council remains paralysed and deadlocked over reconciling to accommodate the interests of the five permanent members, how will it cope with the interest of more such members?