A Major Policy Reversal in Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs. 

During the last three days there have been some speculations pertaining to a major policy reversal in Pakistan’ foreign policy regarding neighboring India. Recent statements of various media persons and a few prominent politicians indicate that Pakistan has suddenly changed its position on the permanent Indian membership of UNSC-United Nations Security Council.

As per former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmod Qureshi, FM Bilawal Bhutto has assured the Americans that Pakistan  will not object to the permanent Indian membership of UNSC. If this is so then, this will have far reaching repercussions for Pakistan that we can’t even imagine right now.

In the last 75 years history of the country, Pakistan has always opposed the permanent Indian membership of the UNSC. Every successive government whether military or civilian had been opposing this unlawful attempt of including India in the UNSC since partition. 

Now, this sudden policy shift has left everyone in shock as how a country that has fought four bloody wars with Pakistan could get a positive gesture on its permanent membership in UNSC from its immediate rival Pakistan.

As member countries of the UN Security Council include the US, China, France, Russia and the UK, these five countries are the world’s top economies which have a greater say in world politics. These countries are the major stakeholders in international policy-making, establishing peacekeeping operations, enacting international sanctions, and authorizing military action and other international issues that confront the world at large.

If india is allowed to be a permanent member of this international body then, the dominant role india has, being one of the emerging economies in Asia, over Pakistan will further get enhanced, resulting in policies favouring India in issues that are bilateral between India and Pakistan.

Secondly, this will also affect the Kashmir cause as India considers Kashmir to be a totally internal issue of India in which Pakistan is nowhere. Contrary to this, Pakistan has always been considering Kashmir as a bilateral disputed territory since 1947. Chances are that India will have intentions of a possible policy reversal regarding other disputed territories such as AJK and GB.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Office has lately denied these rumors circulating in the media. In a recent tweet Spokesperson Foreign Office @Asimiahmad was being quoted, on rumors alluding to Pakistan’s position on Indian bid for permanent UNSC membership, as saying ???? “Let me tell you this is totally baseless absolute fiction. We categorically reject any such statement that is being wrongly attributed to FM @BBhuttoZardari”.

We hope that there is no such thing as a policy reversal in Pakistan’s foreign policy regarding India’s permanent membership in UNSC. However, this remains to be seen in the days ahead.