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Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pakistan's UNSC posts present diplomatic challenge for India's fight against terror
Written by Shivam Shekhawat On June 5, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Pakistan's appointment as chair and vice chair of two important United Nations Security Council (UNSC) committees: The Taliban Sanctions Committee formed through Resolution 1988 and the Counter-Terrorism Committee, which monitors the implementation of Resolution 1373, formed after 9/11. Islamabad is now also a co-chair of two working groups: One on documentation and procedural issues with Denmark and another, newly formed one with Greece tasked with analysing the effectiveness of UN sanctions. Pakistan is also set to preside over the council next month. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and India's efforts to engage with the international community to highlight Pakistan's nefarious role in fomenting terrorism, the appointments have raised concerns about their possible implications for New Delhi. After being elected to the UNSC in June last year, Pakistan started its tenure as a non-permanent member on January 1. Its term will end on December 31, 2026. Marking its eighth stint at the UNSC, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikar Ahmad, restated the country's commitment to utilise the platform to highlight the Kashmir issue and work towards preventing the adverse impacts of terrorism. There can be no doubt that Islamabad will leverage its membership to further its anti-India agenda. The statement released by the Security Council condemning the Pahalgam terror attack was relatively watered down from previous iterations of support to India. Then, on May 5, the UNSC held a closed-door consultation on the 'India-Pakistan Question', the first time after 2019. Thus, cognisant of the possible role Pakistan can play in the UNSC, India's post-conflict outreach to the world focused on reaching out to permanent and non-permanent members except Pakistan, China and Somalia. Similar to India's outreach, Pakistan also sent its delegation to the UN headquarters in New York, as well as to Washington DC, Moscow, Brussels and London. These delegations, led by senior current and former ministers, are urging for the immediate resumption of the Indus Waters Treaty. While the all-party delegations sent by New Delhi have made a clear case for India's imperative to target terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and the threat it faces from its western neighbor, the road ahead, to win the narrative war, will not be easy. India has been urging a rethink of the financial support offered to Pakistan by the IMF and the World Bank, and its possible utilisation by Rawalpindi to fund activities against India. India has also decided to revamp its push for Pakistan's re-inclusion in the FATF's grey list after it was removed in 2022. For India, this is important to prevent Pakistan from strengthening its terror-military scaffolding further. While ties between Kabul and Islamabad plummeted in the last few months, they have now decided to elevate their relationship to the ambassadorial level, the agreement for which was reached during the informal meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and China, further changing the dynamics in the region. Both sides have had continued communications, even when the conflict between India and Pakistan broke out. While the Taliban is trying to play both sides, China's close strategic partnership with Pakistan and its openness to engaging with Kabul makes the situation difficult for India. There has been a close synchronisation between Islamabad and Beijing against India at the UNSC and other international platforms. Pakistan will leverage the platform to propagate false claims of India's support for terrorist attacks in the country, particularly the attacks by Baloch outfits. Islamabad has also tried to pin the blame for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan's actions on both Afghanistan and India. While the UNSC posts will not offer Pakistan a lot of leeway directly, it will give it more space to bring up issues that align with its own interests and deflect attention from India's concerns. Pakistan will also vehemently oppose India's permanent membership bid at the UNSC. The writer is a junior fellow with ORF's Strategic Studies Programme
Business Recorder
06-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
High-profile United Nations bodies: PM hails Pakistan's appointment
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday welcomed Pakistan's appointment to several high-profile United Nations committees, calling it a sign of the international community's confidence in the country's counterterrorism record. On Wednesday, Pakistan was named chair of the UN Security Council committee established under Resolution 1988 (2011), which oversees sanctions against the Afghan Taliban. The country was also appointed vice chair of the council's Counter-Terrorism Committee, responsible for monitoring the implementation of Resolution 1373 (2001), a key component of the UN's counterterrorism framework. In addition, Pakistan will serve as co-chair of two subsidiary bodies: the Informal Working Group on Documentation and the newly formed Working Group on Sanctions. 'These key appointments validate the international community's confidence and trust in Pakistan's counterterrorism credentials,' Sharif said in a post on X. He described the recognition as a source of national pride, emphasising Pakistan's long and costly battle against terrorism. Sharif cited more than 90,000 casualties and economic losses exceeding $150 billion since Pakistan joined the global war on terror. The Pakistani Mission to the United Nations hailed the appointments as a significant diplomatic achievement, noting that they reflect the country's active engagement with the UN and its current role as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Pakistan began its eighth two-year term on the Security Council on January 1, representing the Asia-Pacific group. It is scheduled to assume the council's rotating presidency in July. While non-permanent members do not hold veto power, they often wield considerable influence in sanctions-related bodies, where decisions are made by consensus. The appointments come as the international community grapples with intensifying conflicts in Gaza, Kashmir and Syria – regions where the Security Council's effectiveness continues to face scrutiny. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
UNSC appointments validate world confidence in Pakistan's counterterror credentials: PM
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday described Pakistan's appointment to several key United Nations Security Council (UNSC) counterterrorism bodies as a 'matter of great pride' and a reflection of the international community's trust in the country's counterterrorism credentials. The premier's remarks came a day after Pakistan was elected Vice-Chair of the UNSC's Counter-Terrorism Committee and designated to chair the Council's 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee in 2025. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the prime minister said that Pakistan's selection as Chair of the UNSC Sanctions Committee under Resolution 1988 (2011), Vice-Chair of the 1373 (2001) Counter-Terrorism Committee, and Co-Chair of the Informal Working Group on documentation and sanctions, affirms international recognition of Pakistan's 'strong and unwavering commitment to eradicate this global menace.' It is a matter of great pride that Pakistan has been appointed as Chair of UNSC Sanctions Committee under Res.1988(2011); Vice Chair of of the 1373 (2001) Counter-Terrorism Committee; as well as Co-Chair of Informal Working Group (IWG) on documentation and sanctions. These key… — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 5, 2025 'These key appointments validate the international community's confidence and trust in Pakistan's counterterrorism credentials,' he stated, adding that the roles also acknowledged Pakistan's sacrifices as a frontline state in the global fight against terrorism. Highlighting the human and economic cost of terrorism, the prime minister noted that Pakistan had endured over 90,000 casualties and suffered economic losses exceeding $150 billion. 'As one of the biggest victims of terrorism, Pakistan's sacrifices in combating this scourge have been second to none,' he added. Read more: Pakistan becomes co-chair of UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope that these appointments would strengthen Pakistan's engagement with the UN's multilateral counterterrorism framework and reaffirm its resolve to contribute to global peace and security. Separately, Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the United Nations welcomed the appointments, stating that the development represented an acknowledgment of the country's active and constructive role in the UN system, particularly its engagement as an elected member of the Security Council. Pakistan Appointed to Different Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Security Council United Nations, June 4, 2025— In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan has been appointed as Chair of the UN Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011), which… — Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) June 4, 2025 'These appointments are an international recognition of Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts,' the mission said in a statement. It added that Pakistan remained committed to working closely with the United Nations and other member states in upholding the UN Charter and contributing to global counterterrorism efforts through international collaboration. According to the updated list of chairs for the UNSC's subsidiary bodies, Denmark will assume the chair of the 1267 ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee in 2025, with Russia and Sierra Leone appointed as vice-chairs. Algeria will lead the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee, while France, Pakistan, and Russia will serve as its vice-chairs. In addition to chairing the 1988 Sanctions Committee in 2025, Pakistan will work alongside Guyana and Russia, who have been named vice-chairs of the same committee. The 1988 Committee oversees the implementation of sanctions—including asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes—on individuals and entities linked to the Taliban that pose a threat to peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan's recent election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2025–26 term further cements its diplomatic standing at the UN. The country secured 182 votes out of 193 in last year's General Assembly election, significantly surpassing the required two-thirds majority. The UN Security Council is composed of 15 members, including five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—with veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The current non-permanent members are Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Indians fume as Pakistan secures key UN counter-terror roles
Indians erupted in outrage after Pakistan secured leadership roles on two pivotal UN Security Council committees this week despite New Delhi's years-long campaign to isolate it internationally. The diplomatic blow for India came Wednesday when Pakistan was named: Vice Chair of the UNSC's Counter-Terrorism Committee (established post-9/11 under Resolution 1373), which oversees global anti-terrorism compliance. Chair of the committee monitoring Taliban sanctions (Resolution 1988). The appointments cap a string of failures for India's isolation strategy, following similar setbacks at the IMF and ADB. BJP-linked figures lashed out, with some calling the UN's credibility into question. 'The UNSC has become a joke' fumed one BJP linked journalist, Smita Prakash. Others called on the Indian leadership to leave the UN. Major Indian outlets, including The Hindustan Times, blasted the UN's decision with provocative headlines. The diplomatic firestorm erupts mere weeks after the rivals teetered on the brink of war during their most dangerous military confrontation in decades. The flashpoint came in late April when a brutal attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir left 26 dead—a massacre New Delhi pinned squarely on Pakistan. Islamabad's furious denials fell on deaf ears as the incident triggered cross-border airstrikes and brought the nuclear-armed neighbors to the edge of full-scale conflict.
