Moscow, Russia: Only China can stop expansion in permanent members list of UNSC as India is bagging 122 members of the 193-member United Nations (UN) to get permanent seat in UN Security Council, reports Russian media.
The only hurdle for India is China as the US, Russia, France and the UK have put their weight in favour of G4 (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan).
India is manoeuvring to get permanent seat in UN Security Council (UNSC) to forgo veto power for the time-being. While China indicates that it will veto any attempt to expand list of permanent members of UNSC.
Russian official newspaper Sputnik confirms Moscow support for G4 for expansion of UNSC while China and Pakistan are critical for expansion of permanent members list because both countries have territorial disputes with India.
The UN Security Council, formed in 1945, has five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK and US. Ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms.
Ambassador of Pakistan in UN Dr. Maleeha Lodhi believes that the best, and the only way, to accommodate legitimate regional and political aspirations, is to enlarge the Security Council in the non-permanent category.
She is of the view that the only acceptable democratic method for political representation known to the modern era is periodic elections on a fixed tenure of term.
Expansion in the list of permanent members of UNSC is not possible if China uses power of veto. Beijing and Islamabad are strategic partners since Indo-Sino war and Chinese stakes are high in Pakistan where it operates biggest emerging sea port in the region—Gwadar. China has also direct investment of over 55 billion (USD) in Pakistan under China Pakistan Economic Corridor which is the most important trade route of One Belt—One Road vision of Beijing.
