Pakistan snubbed at UNSC: It demanded to chair for 4 terror-related panels, got 1

Pakistan’s request to lead four terrorism-related committees at the UN Security Council (UNSC) has been largely rejected, according to official sources in New York. As a non-permanent member, Pakistan had sought leadership of the 1267 Sanctions Committee, the 1540 (Non-Proliferation) Committee, the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee, and the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC).

However, it was granted only the chair of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee and the vice-chair position of the CTC. Ironically, Pakistan—often labelled as the “global exporter of terror”—is now heading a committee on Taliban sanctions.

Sources said Pakistan had to settle for just one full chair: the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee, with Russia and Guyana as vice-chairs.

“It was also given vice-chair roles in the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee (alongside France and Russia), co-chair of the Sanctions Informal Working Group with Greece, and co-chair of the Documentation Working Group with Denmark,” a source said.

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“These positions fall well short of Pakistan’s expectations,” the source added.

Delay in allocations due to lack of consensus on Pak

Pakistan’s demands caused a lack of consensus within the UNSC, delaying the allocation of committees by around five months. “The allocation should have been finalised by January 2025,” said an official.

Another official added that Pakistan’s unreasonable and rigid demands stalled the process until June 2025. “Other Council members were displeased with Pakistan’s inflexible and unjustified approach,” the official said.

According to reports, any attempt by Pakistan to target India on terrorism is likely to be met with strong checks and resistance from other members.

A source also pointed out that the five permanent members of the UNSC—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—chose not to lead any committee, recognising that decision-making is based on consensus and the role of chair offers limited influence.

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Two co-chairs of IWG

For the first time in UNSC history, an Informal Working Group (IWG) will have two co-chairs—seen as a deliberate move to curb Pakistan’s influence.

Despite a visit by the Pakistani delegation to the UN, the outcome is unlikely to satisfy Islamabad and reflects its current credibility and standing within the UN, sources said.

A non-permanent member

Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the 2025–26 term, will co-chair two informal working groups—one focused on documentation and procedural matters, and the other on general sanctions issues.

India previously chaired the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2022 during its 2021–22 term as a non-permanent member.