Pakistan eyes chair of UNSC panel dealing with Taliban sanctions
Pakistan is vying for the chairmanship of the UNSC 1988 Committee, which oversees sanctions against the Taliban, as it seeks to improve relations with Kabul. Despite likely missing out on the 1267 Al-Qaeda sanctions committee, Pakistan aims to leverage the 1988 committee to potentially ease restrictions on the Taliban.
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Pakistan is eyeing chairmanship of the UNSC 1988 Committee, which focuses on the sanctions' regime against the Taliban amid Islamabad's attempt to improve ties with Kabul.Pakistan, which is unlikely to get chairmanship of 1267 Al-Qaeda sanctions committee of the UNSC, has been lobbying hard to get chairmanship of 1988 committee, hoping to play a role in getting relief for Taliban, ET has learnt.Pakistan, a non-permanent member of UNSC, will hold UNSC's rotating presidency this July and is expected to utilise it to push its narrative against India, sources hinted.Put on the backfoot by India-Taliban bonhomie that also resulted in Afghanistan's acting foreign minister condemning the Pahalgam terror attacks, India relaxing medical visa rules for Afghans and Kabul seeking to use Chabahar Port and INSTC, Islamabad with Beijing's assistance stepped up efforts to regain its influence in Kabul.Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi played the role of a peacemaker by bringing the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan to the same table last month. China is also keen to include Afghanistan into CPEC The 1988 committee aims to ensure that individuals and entities associated with the Taliban are not allowed to participate in activities that threaten peace, stability and security in Afghanistan. It monitors the implementation of sanctions, ensuring that they are effectively enforced.The goal is to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan by deterring support to terrorist entities and promoting peace and reconciliation. The panel reviews and approves listing and delisting of individuals and entities on the sanctions list.The committee approves travel ban exemptions for individuals on the list when necessary, such as for medical treatment or meetings related to regional security. The committee monitors the implementation of asset freezes for individuals and entities on the list.
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