&w=3840&q=100)
Scorching irony: Pakistan to be vice-chair of UN's counter-terror panel, head Taliban sanctions body
As an scorching irony unfolds in New York, Pakistan, often labelled as the 'global exporter of terror', will chair the UN Security Council's Taliban Sanctions Committee in 2025 and will also serve as vice-chair of the Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee. read more
A strange irony has unfolded in New York: Pakistan – often referred to as the 'global exporter of terror' – is set to chair the United Nations Security Council's Taliban Sanctions Committee in 2025. It will also serve as vice-chair of the Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee.
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.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Guyana and Russia are set serve as vice-chairs of this committee, which will be headed by Pakistan.
Pakistan to vice-chair counter-terror committee
Algeria will chair the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee, with France, Pakistan, and Russia acting as vice-chairs. According to the official UN list, Denmark will lead the 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee in 2025, with Russia and Sierra Leone as vice-chairs.
A non-permanent member
Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the 2025–26 term, will also 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.
India has repeatedly highlighted that Pakistan harbours the highest number of UN-designated terrorists and terror outfits.
Osama-bin Laden was killed in Pak's Abbottabad
Al Qaeda leader Osama-bin Laden, for instance, was found hiding in Pakistan's Abbottabad and was killed in a US Navy SEAL operation in 2011.
The Security Council comprises five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US. Apart from Pakistan, the current non-permanent members are Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.
Pahalgam terrorists were backed by Pakistan
Recently, Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in Pahalgam on 22 April, triggering a fierce response from New Delhi. India alleged ' cross-border terror links ' and took strong diplomatic measures against Islamabad, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and expelling Pakistani diplomats.
India's Operation Sindoor
India responded with precision strikes targeting nine terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that nearly 100 terrorists were neutralised in these strikes.
'Pakistan is Global exporter of terror'
Experts have long labelled Pakistan a 'global exporter of terror' due to its continued support for extremist groups. This support includes providing safe havens, funding, and training to organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which have carried out attacks across South Asia and beyond.
Terrorism is means of survival for Rawalpindi-based Pak army
These groups often operate with backing from Pakistan's military and intelligence services, who use them as tools for strategic influence. In return, these outfits serve to justify the military's dominance within Pakistan's power structure.
Pakistan uses these groups to spread terror and target civilians. When India retaliates in self-defence, the Pakistani military – headquartered in Rawalpindi and effectively the real power centre – uses Indian action to stoke fear among the public, thereby consolidating its authority.
Pak military's same tactics in Kargil war
Similar tactics were seen during the Kargil War, when Pakistani forces occupied Indian positions and falsely portrayed it as a local insurgency. After a strong Indian counter-offensive, Pakistani forces were forced to withdraw.
Harbouring terror since birth
India, Afghanistan, Iran, and Western nations have consistently criticised Pakistan for harbouring terrorists and using them as instruments of foreign policy. Incidents like the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the discovery of bin Laden on Pakistani soil have only reinforced these concerns.
Despite international pressure – including scrutiny from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – Pakistan's military and intelligence networks continue to face serious allegations of supporting terrorism, jeopardising both regional and global stability.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Print
24 minutes ago
- The Print
India, Central Asian nations resolve to jointly tackle challenge of terrorism
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired the conclave that was attended by his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The challenge of how to combat terrorism figured prominently at the fourth edition of the India-Central Asia Dialogue hosted by New Delhi, with a focus on expanding the overall trajectory of cooperation between the two sides in several key areas. New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) Five Central Asian states on Friday joined India in strongly condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and demanded that the perpetrators, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts be held accountable and punished. The foreign ministers of the Central Asian nations reaffirmed their support also for a permanent membership of India in an expanded UN Security Council. A joint statement unveiled at the end of the deliberations said the ministers 'unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam' and resolved to fight against terrorism in all its forms. They reiterated that using terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism, terror financing, dissemination of a radical ideology and abuse of cyberspace to spread disinformation goes against the basic principles of humanity and international relations, it said. 'They stressed that perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice,' the statement said. 'In this context, they called for early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. They stressed the need to strengthen UN-led global counter-terrorism cooperation and fully implement the relevant UNSC resolutions, global counter-terrorism strategy and FATF standards,' it said. The ministers also called for a 'peaceful and stable' Afghanistan, free from terrorism, war and drugs. 'They stressed the need to stand by the people of Afghanistan.' 'The ministers agreed to continue close coordination and consultations on matters related to Afghanistan,' the statement noted. The conclave also extensively deliberated on boosting connectivity in the region. India welcomed the interest of Central Asian countries to utilise the services of the Shahid Beheshti terminal at the Chabahar Port for facilitating their trade with India and beyond. The Shahid Beheshti terminal at the port is being operated by India. 'The sides agreed to continue engagement for further developing the transit and transport potential of their countries, through simplification and streamlining of goods transit procedures,' the joint statement added. The ministers also emphasised optimum usage of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to enhance connectivity between India and the Central Asian countries. The INSTC is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode transport project for moving freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. India has been supporting the project. 'They stressed that connectivity initiatives should be based on the principles of transparency, broad participation, local priorities, financial sustainability, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,' the statement said. 'India reiterated its support for the membership of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in INSTC. In this context, ministers appreciated the initiative taken by Kazakhstan to develop the eastern branch of INSTC,' it said. In his opening remarks at the conclave, Jaishankar appreciated the Central Asian states for standing by India following the Pahalgam terror attack. India would be a 'trusted development partner' for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, he said. 'I appreciate that your countries stood by India and condemned the heinous terrorist attack that took place in April in Pahalgam,' he said. Jaishankar said India 'deeply cherishes' its millennia-old civilisational and cultural ties with Central Asia. The external affairs minister said the cooperation between India and Central Asia received a 'quantum boost' following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's back-to-back visits to all five countries in the region in July 2015. 'Today, we are well-connected by multiple direct flights. Our enhanced connectivity facilitates greater two-way tourist flows and businesses,' he said. Jaishankar said both India and the Central Asian nations are committed to advancing mutually beneficial cooperation in areas of trade and investment, defence, regional connectivity, security and new and emerging technologies. The India-Central Asia Dialogue, launched in January 2019 in Samarkand, is a meeting of foreign ministers. It serves as a key platform for strengthening ties between India and Central Asia. The second meeting took place virtually in October 2020 and focused on regional security, counter-terrorism, and infrastructure development. PTI MPB VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Fear grips Punjab border districts after Operation Sindoor placed on hold
Amritsar: A month after India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, fear still hangs heavy over Punjab's border villages, even though the govt claims the military action is now "on hold". Residents in the districts adjoining the Pakistan border report a lingering anxiety — rooted not just in the conflict itself but in its unresolved status. In villages near Attari and Tarn Taran, life remains suspended in caution. The spectre of Pakistani drones, which violated Indian airspace previously, continues to haunt daily routines. "Even though life is returning to normal slowly, there are still nights we can't sleep," said Dharmander Singh, a farmer near Attari. "Every unfamiliar sound makes me think a drone is approaching." That fear deepens at dusk, prompting many to stay indoors. "We used to hear of ceasefires in Jammu and Kashmir. Now it's our villages on edge," said Manjinder Singh of Naushehra Dhalla. While officials say the cross-border operation has been paused, locals say ambiguity has only heightened their sense of insecurity. "The govt says it's on hold. But what does that really mean for us?" asked Shivani Gupta of Amritsar. The Border Security Force (BSF) has permitted farmers to return to their fields beyond the border fence, with Kisan Guards accompanying them for protection. Yet many remain reluctant. "I have land to till, but every step feels like a risk," said Manjinder Singh. "Who will protect us if something happens?" Economic and diplomatic activity remains sluggish. The Kartarpur Corridor remains closed, trade with Afghanistan has yet to resume, and while Pakistan allowed a stranded Afghan truck to deliver goods into India recently, regular passenger traffic is still suspended. For Punjab's border residents, uncertainty — not gunfire — remains the most unsettling part of the aftermath. MSID:: 121675464 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !


Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Spy ring: Ex-Pak cop, a YouTuber, a key handler
New Delhi: Investigators probing the recent cases of espionage have identified a former sub-inspector of Pakistan Police as a key handler in the cross-border spy networks. The suspect, identified as Nasir, had been recruited by ISI a few years ago after which he voluntarily retired from service and turned a YouTuber. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Nasir and his female accomplice, Naushaba Shehzad aka Madam N, were specifically tasked by ISI to cultivate Indian influencers, sources said. The two had become a bridge between the ISI and Indian YouTubers. "After initial onboarding, Nasir would connect Indian YouTubers visiting Pakistan with high commission official Danish and others who would then assign them espionage tasks and invite them as guests to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi," said an investigator. Danish was expelled from India in May, after travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra was arrested by Haryana Police. Nasir also figures in the interrogation of Jasbir Singh, another YouTuber who was arrested last week for allegedly passing on information on Indian forces' movement to ISI. Nasir is also a property dealer based out of Faisalabad and is fond of driving SUVs. "He has a lot of followers on YouTube and he advocates for visas to Indians yearning to meet family in Pakistan through his videos. However, that is his cover to camouflaging his spying activities," said a senior investigator. Nasir and Naushaba Shehzad, who runs a travel agency in Pakistan, facilitated visas for those who "cooperated". In lieu of visa and other facilities, including accommodation at five star hotels, the duo asked the influencers to shoot pro-Pakistan videos and upload them on YouTube to create a favourable narrative. TNN