New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- Pakistan joins the UN Security Council in the New Year subtly changing the balance in the world organisation's highest decision-making body and getting a virtual veto power over sanctioning terrorists it harbours. Elected in June as a non-permanent member, it will replace Japan for a two-year term on one of the two seats for Asia Pacific countries in the Council.

Pakistan received 182 votes in the 193-member General Assembly for its eighth turn on the Council.

Now Islamabad will not have to rely on Beijing to protect its terrorists like the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Sajid Mir, at the Islamic State and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, which designates individuals and groups associated with those two organ...