• Source:JND
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Pakistan's attempt to lead four high-profile terrorism-related committees in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has been largely rebuffed, and the country has only managed to get its hands on the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee. In a report by The Times of India (TOI), Pakistan's requests created huge resentment in the Council, pushing the process of allocation by almost five months.

Pakistan, which took up its place as a non-permanent UNSC member in January 2025, had insisted on chairmanship of the underlisted committees:

• 1267 Al-Qaeda/ISIL Sanctions Committee
• 1540 Non-Proliferation Committee
• 1373 Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC)
• 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee

Yet Pakistan had to make do with the chairmanship of the Taliban committee and a token vice-chairship in the CTC. The vice-chair's role is somewhat ceremonial and of no operational importance. "It's not even a co-chair; it's a token position," an official said to TOI.

UNSC Members Disapprove of Pakistan's Approach

Other members of the UNSC, including the five permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, and the US), allegedly did not favor Pakistan's aggressive bid for major positions. "There was no consensus and an uncompromising stance taken by Pakistan, which stalled the process," according to a senior official, as reported by the TOI. The official explained that committee assignments, which were to be completed by January 2025, could only be decided upon by June because of these complications.

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The Taliban Sanctions Committee that Pakistan now heads is responsible for overseeing the enforcement of sanctions against listed individuals and groups associated with the Taliban. Although this assignment provides some prominence, it is short of Islamabad's "tall expectations and claims," Indian government sources said to TOI. Government sources consider the development to be a diplomatic failure for Pakistan. “Despite all its rhetoric, Pakistan has not been able to get its way,” an Indian official explained to TOI. The source further said India had presided over the powerful 1373 CTC as recently as 2022 and in its previous term in 2011–12, which highlighted the difference in credibility between the two neighbors at the UN.

Friendly nations like Russia and Guyana will allegedly function as vice-chairs of the 1988 Committee, which further reassured India's stance. "India will collaborate closely with its friends in the Council," averred a source. Another senior diplomat stated, "Any attempts by Pakistan to politicise the committees or single out India on terrorism will meet with strong opposition from other members."

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Committee Chairs Work through Consensus

Officials also added that serving as chairs of UN committees does not give one much clout, since decisions are usually made by consensus. “The permanent members were not keen to head these committees either, knowing that chairs don’t hold much sway independently,” noted a diplomat. Still, committee chairmanship symbolism is significant in multilateral diplomacy. "Chairing enables nations to make noise and demonstrate presence, but Pakistan's minimal outcome here reveals where it stands when it comes to global credibility," he added.