October 5, 2004 ☼ Foreign Affairs
This is an archived blog post from The Acorn.
A normally scholarly Pakistani writer cites a strange reason for supporting India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council (something which Pakistan has promised to block at all costs)
Keeping all these things in mind, we need to consider the merits of the Indian claim in a more objective manner. There is no chance that if India does not become a member Pakistan will. There is no other Muslim state that can realistically be put forth as a serious candidate for membership in the Security Council. The day when the Ummah is united in a grand caliphate ranging from Morocco to Indonesia is still not at hand. Should the Muslim world not seek other ways of gaining a voice in the Security Council?
Let me present a strategy that might help Muslims gain a voice directly in the Security Council. India already has a Muslim population of 140 million. It has been consistently opposing US interference in the Middle East and quite honestly its record on anti-imperialist issues is better than Pakistan’s. The sticking point is of course Kashmir, but I see little possibility of India bargaining with Pakistan on Kashmir to get the latter’s support. Pakistan does not have such great clout in the UN General Assembly as to mobilise effective opposition against India. [DT]If India indeed deserves a place on the security council, it is because of what it is - a secular, liberal democratic polity, a growing economy with (debatably) rising global clout, and a regional military power. Representing the interests of any one (or all) religions does not belong to this list. Besides, dhimmitude cannot be the price India would need to pay to secure Pakistan’s support.
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