Criticism Erupts As UN Appoints Pakistan Vice Chair Of Security Council Counter-Terrorism Body (image-X/PakistanUN_NY)
A wave of criticism and disbelief had swept over India following Pakistan’s recent appointment to chair the United Nations Security Council’s Taliban Sanctions Committee. Pakistan would also serve as the vice chair of the Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee. This double nod from the UN comes as Pakistan serves its eighth term as a non-prominent member of the Security Council.
The UNSC’s Counter Terrorism Committee is a powerful body formed under Resolution 1373 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. However, the development had triggered a flurry of angry reactions across India. Prominent journalist Rajdeep Sardesai reacted sharply to Pakistan’s appointment and questioned both the UN’s seriousness in tackling terror and India’s diplomatic clout, while urging a renewed push to return Pakistan to the FATF grey list.
Important: Irony just died: Pakistan is appointed vice chair of United Nations Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee.. and chair of Taliban Sanctions Committee. What does this say about UN commitment to root out terror or frankly about our foreign policy clout in global…
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 5, 2025
Read also: Ashoka Co-founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani Reveals Stance On Mahmudabad Row
The Congress Party too along with others launched a scathing attack on Narendra Modi government alleging the collapse of India’s foreign policy following Operation Sindoor. The opposition party had claimed that India’s global standing had suffered, while Pakistan, often accused of harbouring terrorism, is reaping diplomatic and financial benefits.
“The country that harbours and protects the Taliban now heads a UN committee meant to sanction it. What kind of global irony are we witnessing?” asked a senior Congress leader Pawan Khera.
The Taliban Sanctions Committee , also known as the 1988 Committee, is responsible for measures such as freezing assets, imposing travel bans, and enforcing arms embargoes on individuals and groups linked to the Taliban that pose a threat to peace and security in Afghanistan.
Similarly several other prominent journalists and political commentators had voiced their outrage over the troubling endorsement of Pakistan’s role in security and counter terrorism matters.
“Pakistan to serve as vice-chair of 15 member United Nations Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee and chair the Taliban Sanctions Committee for 2025. The UNSC has become a joke,” Smita Prakash, Editor of News International wrote on X.
Read also: ISI’s ‘Madame N’ Allegedly Recruited Indian Influencers As Spies For Pakistan: Report
Pakistan to serve as vice-chair of 15 member United Nations Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee and chair the Taliban Sanctions Committee for 2025.
The UNSC has become a joke— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) June 4, 2025
Meanwhile, India had previously chaired the UN Security Council’s Counter- Terrorism Committee in 2022 during its 2021-22 term as a non-permanent member.
