India Urges UNSC To Prevent Political Manipulation Of Terror Lists
NEW YORK, NY- India has warned that the UN Security Council must not be used to legitimize terrorists through politically motivated attempts to de-list them, while calling for greater transparency and objectivity in the Council’s process of listing and delisting terrorist groups and individuals.
“Presence in the Security Council must not be instrumentalized to legitimize terrorists by attempting to de-list them or to list other entities as terrorist organizations based solely on political considerations, without any objective criteria or supporting documentation,” Yojna Patel, Chargé d’Affaires of India’s UN Mission, said on August 19.
Speaking at the Council’s Open Debate on its Working Methods, Patel also highlighted the prolonged delay in appointing chairs to the Council’s subsidiary bodies dealing with terrorism and sanctions, saying the bodies have been unable to function optimally because of the deadlock.
The process of listing and delisting terrorists, as well as appointing chairs to the panels, is shrouded in secrecy, Patel said. She called for greater transparency and objectivity in these processes.
Pakistan and China tried unsuccessfully this year to designate the Baloch Liberation Army and the Majeed Brigade as “terrorist groups subject” to UN sanctions. The attempt was thwarted by the US, France and Britain.
Pakistan, an elected member of the Council, has also sought the removal of some terrorists and terrorist organizations from the sanctions list. For years, China blocked attempts to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Sajid Mir as global terrorists.
“Security Council membership brings significant responsibilities,” Patel said. “This must not become a platform to pursue narrow political interests.”
Even after eight months, the Council has not been able to appoint chairs of its subsidiary bodies, including those dealing with terrorist sanctions and counterterrorism, mainly because Pakistan wants to head the sanctions committee.
As the Council acts on these matters by consensus, it has not been able to break the stalemate.
“These bodies have not been able to deliver optimally in the recent past, primarily due to the delay in finalizing the Chairs,” Patel said.
“India calls on the Security Council to urgently address this issue and finalize the Chairs on priority,” she said.
A “definitive and non-negotiable timeline” must be set for finalizing the chairs of subsidiary bodies, she added.
Patel attributed the Council’s failures to its anachronistic structure based on “the outcome of one conflict 80 years ago” when it was created by the victors of World War II.
She reiterated India’s demand for reform of the Council by expanding both its permanent and non-permanent memberships.
“This could be achieved only through text-based negotiations, with clearly defined milestones and timelines,” she said. (IANS)
