Lodhi not too keen to take on Tharoor

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's ambassador to the UK Maleeha Lodhi is not too keen to contest elections for the post of UN Secretary General for which India has fielded Shashi Tharoor.

Lodhi, an editor-turned-diplomat, is not too eager to join the fray unless she is sure of Islamabad mobilizing significant support against Tharoor, whose nomination has caught Pakistan by surprise, media reports said.

Pakistan has floated several names, including that of its Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to contest against Tharoor for the UN top job but is yet to decide about its strategy to take part in the election.

Islamabad has become silent after giving out several names like that of Aziz, UN permanent envoy Munir Akram, head of the UN Population Fund Dr Nafis Sadik and Lodhi.

The issue figured prominently in the recent conference of top Pakistan envoys held here but no decision has been announced. Top diplomats, including Lodhi attended the meeting.

India on Thursday formally informed the presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council that it has nominated UN Under Secretary and author Shashi Tharoor for the post of the next UN Secretary-General.

At the moment there are four declared candidates including, Tharoor from India, Jayanatha Dhanapala from Sri Lanka, the Deputy PM of Thailand Surakiart Sathirathai,

reportedly ASEAN's consensus candidate and South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon.