New Delhi: Pakistan has joined 52 other Asian states to endorse India's candidature for the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council. Pakistan's support came along with a nod from all the SAARC countries. India needs 128 votes to get the seat in October.
Although it's theoretically possible that another Asian candidate could pop up between now and October, diplomats consider that unlikely, particularly after Friday's vocal endorsement of India's candidature.
In January, Kazakhstan, the only other candidate, withdrew from the list after it became clear that India had already had about 122 votes in its kitty.
This will mean that India's lobbying efforts cannot slacken until the election to prevent attrition of support or the emergence of another rival. If India wins, it will avenge its humiliating defeat in 1996, when Japan wrested the seat from India, which got just around 40 votes.
On getting itself a permanent seat in the Security Council, India expects a text to be circulated in a couple of weeks on structure of the UNSC reform and new members.
Pakistan's endorsement may augur well for India-Pakistan talks scheduled for later this week.
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