+The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is facing an unusual leadership vacuum in its key counterterrorism committees, with the positions remaining unfilled halfway through the year. The stalemate has arisen due to Pakistan’s persistent efforts to secure the chairmanship of one or more of the three influential committees: the Counterterrorism Committee (CTC), the 1267 Sanctions Committee on al-Qaeda and ISIL, and the 1988 Sanctions Committee on the Taliban.
Diplomatic sources indicate that several Western nations on the Council have strongly opposed Pakistan’s candidacy for any of the chair positions. The primary concern cited is a conflict of interest, given Pakistan’s alleged history of harboring terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, as well as the presence of sanctioned individuals and entities within its territory. Moreover, Pakistan’s complex and often adversarial relationship with the Taliban regime in neighboring Afghanistan has further undermined its claim to impartial leadership, particularly over the 1988 Committee.
Consensus decision-making, a key procedural principle within the Council, has allowed Pakistan—currently serving as a non-permanent elected member—to block the appointment of new chairs. In the absence of consensus, leadership of the committees temporarily falls under the jurisdiction of the country holding the Council’s rotating presidency. With Pakistan set to assume the rotating presidency in July, it is poised to take interim control of all three panels by default, heightening tensions among Council members.
Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Evangelos Sekeris—who held the Council presidency last month—acknowledged the deadlock, stating that discussions are ongoing to resolve the impasse. However, the informal nature of these negotiations has made progress slow and uncertain.
Pakistan’s current push includes a bid for at least the chair of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee. Officials in Islamabad reportedly see this as an opportunity to influence developments in Afghanistan, including the ability to advocate for tightening or relaxing sanctions based on Pakistan’s strategic interests. However, given its strained ties with the Taliban and its domestic challenges related to cross-border militancy, the proposal remains contentious.
The precedent set by India during its 2020–2022 term on the Council is also influencing deliberations. India chaired the Counterterrorism Committee and notably held a high-profile meeting in Mumbai at the sites of the 2008 terror attacks perpetrated by Pakistan-based militants—an event cited by opponents of Pakistan’s bid to highlight potential conflicts of interest.
With no resolution yet in sight, the credibility and operational effectiveness of the Security Council’s counterterrorism architecture risk being compromised. The coming weeks will be critical as members continue behind-the-scenes negotiations to break the impasse and ensure leadership continuity in these vital committees.
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