Islamabad’s ambitions hit a wall at UN’s security elite forum
Pakistan, currently serving as a non‑permanent member of the UN Security Council, made a bold bid to lead four key anti-terrorism committees. The aim was clear: expand its influence in shaping global counter-terror strategies. But the Council’s majority wasn’t impressed — Islamabad was handed only one chairmanship: the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee
Why It Matters
- Strategic setback: Being denied leadership on multiple terror-related panels limits Pakistan’s reach in shaping international sanctions and counter-terror policy.
- Diplomatic rebuff: It signals reluctance among UNSC members to support Pakistan’s expanded role in the Council’s security mechanisms.
- Mixed control: Though still controlling the Taliban panel, its scope is narrow compared to the larger sanctions and counter-terror committees it sought.
UNSC’s Broader Context
- India’s voice too: In recent UNSC sessions, India criticized Pakistan for allegedly shielding terrorists while pointing to Islamabad’s moves to internationalize issues like the Indus treaty and terror narrative
- Secret committee backlash: India also flagged how China has blocked Pakistan-linked terror listings in UNSC sanctions committees — calling it a “disguised veto”
- Pakistan on shaky ground: Closed-door meetings around the Pahalgam attack further reinforced skepticism towards Pakistan, with many delegations posing tough questions on terrorism links and nuclear rhetoric
What’s Ahead
- Expect continued pressure — From India and Western members questioning Pakistan on terror and its UNSC role.
- Legal and diplomatic maneuvering — Pakistan will likely push to regain lost ground via diplomacy and alliance-building within the Council.
- Watch committee dynamics — With the Taliban Sanctions Committee under its belt, Islamabad may still influence some aspects of counter-terror policy—but its scope is limited.
Bottom Line
This isn’t just a bureaucratic miss — it’s a diplomatic blow. Pakistan’s narrow victory highlights its constrained standing in the Council’s hard-security councils, while India and other nations keep pressing on matters of counter-terror credibility and transparency.
