Pakistan’s UNSC bid falls flat, India rallies allies to block key terror panels

Pakistan’s bid to secure high-profile roles in key United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions committees has run into strong resistance, with India actively engaging its diplomatic allies to block Islamabad’s ambitions.

Despite intense lobbying, Pakistan has been handed only one full chair — of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee — far short of its aspirations to lead several top panels.

Sources at the UN headquarters in New York were quoted as saying by The Indian Express that Pakistan had demanded chairmanship of four powerful committees: the 1267 Sanctions Committee (Al-Qaeda/ISIL), the 1540 Committee (Weapons of Mass Destruction), the 1988 Taliban Committee, and the 1373 Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC). However, what it ultimately received was a considerably trimmed-down role.

While Pakistan did manage to secure the chair of the 1988 Committee — the same panel India chaired during its 2021-22 UNSC term — the rest of its gains were minor. It was appointed as Vice-Chair of the 1373 CTC (alongside France and Russia), Co-Chair of the Sanctions Informal Working Group (IWG) with Greece, and Co-Chair of the Documentation IWG with Denmark.

A senior diplomatic source said, “The allocation process was delayed due to Pakistan’s unreasonable demands. The Council was clearly unhappy with Islamabad’s posturing. What Pakistan has received is far below its expectations.”

In what is being seen as an unprecedented move, the UNSC has — for the first time in its history — assigned two Co-Chairs to an Informal Working Group, interpreted by many as a subtle check on Pakistan’s overreach.

India is now working in close coordination with key UNSC members to ensure that Pakistan’s influence over terrorism-related panels remains tightly constrained. Indian sources say that Pakistan’s track record in harboring and enabling terrorist actors severely undermines its credibility on such platforms.

“From Osama bin Laden’s safe haven in Abbottabad to Lashkar-e-Taiba’s training camps in Muridke and Muzaffarabad, Pakistan’s links to global terror networks are extensive and well documented,” one source said. The same official pointed out that of the roughly 254 individuals and 89 entities designated by the 1267 Committee, over 50 have direct links to Pakistan.

“Pakistan’s discomfort stems from the very real possibility that more of its nationals and fronts will soon be added to the sanctions regime,” the source added.

India, which previously chaired both the 1988 and 1373 Committees during its terms, remains focused on ensuring that counter-terror mechanisms at the UN are not diluted by states with conflicted records. New Delhi’s strategy, sources confirmed, is to continue working “quietly but effectively” with like-minded partners on the Council to blunt Islamabad’s influence.

The outcome, they said, is a telling reflection of Pakistan’s standing — and isolation — within the global diplomatic arena.