Web desk(National Times)- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday congratulated Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe on their election as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027–2028 term.

“We wish them every success in discharging this important responsibility,” he said in a post on X.

“As Pakistan continues its tenure on the UNSC through 2026, we remain committed to advancing peace, security, dialogue, and multilateral cooperation,” he added.

Dar further stated, “We look forward to working closely with the incoming members in pursuit of our shared objectives and a more peaceful, secure, and equitable world.”

Only 10 out of the 15 members of the council are elected, with no election for the five veto-wielding permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday elected Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe to the 15-member UN Security Council for two-year terms starting on January 1, 2027.

Germany, which had lobbied hard for a seat, came third for the two places contested by the Western European and Others Group, with 104 votes, against 134 for Portugal and 131 for Austria.

The contest between the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan for the seat for the Asia-Pacific Group went to four rounds of voting, with Kyrgyzstan eventually achieving the necessary two-thirds majority and securing its first-ever Security Council seat by 142 votes to 49.

In 2024, Pakistan was elected to the UNSC, securing a non-permanent seat for a historic eighth term with an overwhelming 182 out of 190 votes. Pakistan represents the Asia-Pacific group in the UNSC till the end of 2026.