India blocks Pakistan bid to lead 4 UNSC terror panels, terroristan loses three committee chairs

Pakistan’s demand to chair four UN Security Council committees dealing with terrorism has been met with fierce opposition from other members of the Council. As a result, it was granted the chairmanship of only one committee. Even without being on the Security Council, India managed to deliver a significant blow to Pakistan.

Pakistan had sought to head the Sanctions Committee, the Sanctions Committee, the Taliban Committee, and the Counter-Terrorism Committee. However, it was only given the leadership of the Taliban Sanctions Committee. Additionally, it was made vice-chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

There is growing criticism that Pakistan’s insistence on leading key committees caused delays in the finalisation of the UN Security Council’s committee assignments. The appointments, originally expected to be completed by January 2025, were postponed by five months due to Pakistan’s demands. Other Security Council members remained unconvinced by Pakistan’s claims.

Sources reveal that none of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US, showed interest in heading these sensitive committees. India had previously chaired the Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee and is seen as having achieved a diplomatic win by ensuring Pakistan was not given this role.

The development comes as India intensifies efforts to highlight Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism following Operation Sindoor. India had also dispatched all-party delegations to various countries to expose Pakistan’s role in the Pahalgam attack and its broader terror network under Operation Sindoor. Besides, India has repeatedly raised its concerns at the UN, labelling Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism and noting that it has the highest number of individuals designated as global terrorists by the UN.

Pakistan has been given the chairmanship of the Taliban Sanctions Committee, which is responsible for enforcing travel bans and economic sanctions on Taliban-linked entities to maintain peace and security in Afghanistan. Guyana and Russia are the other members of this committee.

Meanwhile, Algeria was appointed chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, with France and Russia as the other members.

The UN Security Council comprises five permanent members, the US, China, France, Russia, and Britain, and ten non-permanent members, including Pakistan.