ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan has said that India is not qualified to get permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as it has been violating UN resolutions on Kashmir.
In her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that Pakistan strongly favors reforms in the UN system but it is not in favour of the expansion of the UN Security Council.
The spokesperson said that the idea of new permanent member seats in the UNSC will create only new centers of powers and privileges, and could make the Security Council even more undemocratic.
In response to questions about the recent US-India defense deal, the spokesperson said that the deal can only add to the conventional asymmetry and undermine the regional stability.
The foreign office spokesperson voiced concerns over India’s massive acquisition of conventional weapons, saying this will further complicate stability in the region.
Tasneem Aslam said that India has increased its defense spending by 12 percent in 2014-15. She said that India’s defense budget stands at $38.3 billion, and it has been top buyer of conventional weapons for the last three years.
Talking about china, the spokesperson said that China is a global power and is significantly contributing to regional stability.
The spokesperson said that the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan will take place. However, dates have yet not been finalized.
The foreign office spokesperson further said that Pakistan is determined to work with the United States to expand bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect and interests.
Tasneem Aslam said that Washington is our major trading partner and a big investor in Pakistan.
