'China not to support India for UNSC permanent seat'
Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Report

ISLAMABAD: China has assured Pakistan that it would not support the candidature of India as permanent member of the United Nations Security Council [UNSC] enjoying veto power.

Credible sources said that the recent meeting of the cabinet discussed the issue with special reference to media reports about China’s assurance to back India for UNSC seat during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to New Delhi.

Many voices were raised in the cabinet meeting but both Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said that Beijing did not support any further expansion in the UNSC elite group of five with exclusive veto power.

Shaukat Aziz was quoted as saying "No way," in response to a federal minister’s apprehension that China might side with India on this issue.

The Prime Minister told the cabinet members that he had taken up the issue with the Chinese Premier during the latter’s visit to Pakistan and there was complete unanimity in the two countries’ approach on the matter.

Kasuri endorsed the Prime Minister’s word, saying that the Beijing had denied the media reports on the matter.

Media reports recently suggested that Beijing had backed a permanent UNSC seat for New Delhi in an expanded UN Security Council. Beijing also came up with its clarification saying that the Chinese side gave no firm commitment to support the Indian bid.●