India Criticises Pakistan’s Role in UN Taliban Sanctions, Calls for Transparency

New Delhi/New York: India has raised strong concerns over Pakistan heading critical United Nations committees, warning that nations with vested interests should not be allowed to chair panels responsible for sanctions and counter-terrorism. The remarks were delivered by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, during a Security Council debate on Friday.

“Council members must be prevented from chairing committees when they have obvious conflicts of interest,” Harish said, emphasising that “outright conflicts of interest can have no place in the Council.” While he did not name Pakistan directly, his statement clearly referred to Pakistan’s role as chair of the Security Council’s Taliban sanctions committee and co-chair of the counter-terrorism panel.

The 1988 committee, established under UN resolution 1988, is tasked with imposing travel bans on Taliban members and restricting the movement of individuals linked to the group. India has long expressed concerns over delays and obstruction in issuing necessary travel waivers, including for Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, whose visit to India last month faced bureaucratic hurdles.

India pointed out that Pakistan’s leadership in the counter-terrorism committee is problematic given its history of harbouring terrorist groups and leaders sanctioned by the UN. Harish stressed the need for a more transparent and time-bound process in selecting chairs and pen-holders—the Council members entrusted with key responsibilities for specific countries and issues.

“There must be greater transparency in the functioning of subsidiary bodies. Decisions regarding listing or declining sanctions against terrorists are often shrouded in secrecy, leaving member states outside the Council uninformed,” he said. India has repeatedly criticised China’s blocking of efforts to sanction leaders of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed through the 1267 committee, which deals with counter-terrorism related to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Harish also called for a review of UN peacekeeping operations that have outlived their utility, citing the UN Military Observer Group in Kashmir (UNMOGIP) as an example. He urged the Council to introduce sunset clauses to prevent resource wastage and ensure peacekeeping mandates serve their intended purpose rather than narrow political interests.

The Indian diplomat’s statements underscore New Delhi’s push for reforms in UN operations and greater accountability, particularly in committees handling terrorism and international security. India’s call comes amid growing global scrutiny over the need for transparency and impartiality in international decision-making.

Impact and Significance:
India’s intervention highlights the geopolitical challenges in the UN Security Council, where vested interests can influence sanctions and counter-terrorism measures. The country’s push for transparency aims to prevent conflicts of interest from undermining global security efforts and ensure that UN panels function fairly and effectively.

India’s stance is expected to resonate with nations advocating for reforms in the UN system, while also intensifying diplomatic discussions with Pakistan and other Council members over accountability and impartiality in key committees.

This statement by India adds to the ongoing debate on the effectiveness and credibility of UN sanctions panels, making transparency and oversight central to global security governance.