Indo-Pakistan "Battle" for Top UN Job

It looks like it is going to be quite a struggle to nominate the future Secretary General of the United Nations, which is in itself a complex and difficult process.
For the time being, the battle is between India and Pakistan, with Pakistani officials in Islamabad announcing that their country is on the verge of nominating Nafis Sadik, to counter balance India's nominee, Shashi Tharoor as the one who will follow Kofi Annan, whose term expires this year.


Shashi Tharoor is UN's under-secretary general for communications and public information, while Nafis Sadik is currently a special envoy of Kofi Annan's on HIV/AIDS issues.

Many have speculated that Pakistan's desire to nominee a candidate of its own for this position, following New Delhi's announcement that was triggered by the fact that authorities in Islamabad fear an Indian holding that post would work against their country.

This theory was infirmed by newspaper "The Daily Times", which stated, in an editorial that, instead of engaging in a contest just for the sake of it, the government in Islamabad could make arrangements to make a deal with New Delhi, if it thinks the latter is able to cast an important influence on the decision of the new Secretary General: "If New Delhi really thinks that the withdrawal of Pakistan's candidates could brighten the chances of its own, it (India) may well be amenable to cutting a deal with Pakistan".

Furthermore, the editorial highlighted the fact that India benefits from a higher chance to be nominated than Pakistan: "India definitely stands a better chance, not only because of its strategic partnership with the US but also because others in the club are likely to go along with the US. If Islamabad wants to press ahead with the contest, then it should ensure that it is going into the arena fully prepared"

In the end, the decision for the next Secretary General will depend on the five major powers in the UN Security Council, of which Pakistan is not a member, the newspaper concluded, sending a strong message to Islamabad that it should carefully weigh its options before throwing itself into an useless battle.