Saudi Arabia rejects UNSC seat

The 15-member council includes five permanent members with veto power — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France — and 10 nonpermanent members elected for two-year terms. After the vote, Saudi Arabia`s U.N.

Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi said his country`s election was "a reflection of a longstanding policy in support of moderation and in support of resolving disputes by peaceful means."

But the statement from Riyadh on Friday struck a dramatically different tone. "Allowing the ruling regime in Syria to kill its people and burn them with chemical weapons in front of the entire world and without any deterrent or punishment is clear proof and evidence of the U.N. Security Council`s inability to perform its duties and shoulder its responsibilities," the Saudi Foreign Ministry said. 

Pakistan controls Taliban, says Afghan army chief

Fighting in Afghanistan could be stopped “in weeks” if Pakistan told the Taliban to end the insurgency, the head of the Afghan army has told the BBC.Gen Sher Mohammad Karimi said Pakistan controlled and gave shelter to Taliban leaders, deliberately unleashing fighters on Afghanistan.
Pakistan denies controlling the militant group.
It was one of the Taliban’s main supporters from its launch in 1994 until the 2001 fall of the regime.
Most of the Taliban’s leaders reportedly then fled to Pakistan and the group is still considered to be heavily dependent on the support of certain elements in the country.