Pakistan to chair UN Security Council Taliban Sanctions Committee

Khaama News

June 4, 2025

Pakistan will now chair the UNSC Taliban Sanctions Committee, overseeing sanctions related to the Taliban’s activities and influence.

Reports indicate that Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has been appointed as the new chair of the 1988 Sanctions Committee. This committee, responsible for monitoring sanctions imposed on the Taliban, was previously headed by Ecuador’s representative, José Javier de la Gasca, until December 31, 2024.

This leadership change comes amid intensified diplomatic efforts, particularly from China, to engage with the Taliban administration, raising questions about Pakistan’s role in managing these sanctions. The 1988 Sanctions Committee oversees measures such as travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes on Taliban members.

Decisions within the committee are made by consensus among the 15 permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. This appointment coincides with Pakistan’s election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2025-2026 term. According to the Economic Times, this shift in leadership has sparked concerns regarding Pakistan’s impartiality in enforcing the sanctions, especially due to its historical support for the Taliban.

Pakistan was accepted as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for a two-year term earlier this year. This new position gives Pakistan the opportunity to exert pressure on the Taliban, encouraging them to combat “terrorism” and groups it claims are supported by the Taliban and conducting attacks on Pakistani soil.

Pakistani officials have consistently stated that attacks on its territory are organized from Afghanistan, which is under Taliban control. However, the Taliban has denied these allegations in the past, continuing to reject Pakistan’s claims regarding cross-border attacks.

Pakistan has previously indicated that members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are present in Afghanistan. The country has urged the Afghan Taliban to cooperate in addressing this issue and combat the presence of these militants.

Recently, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for closer cooperation with the Taliban. On June 3, Sharif warned against allowing Afghanistan’s territory to be used by proxy forces, particularly from India, for “terrorist activities” against Pakistan.

In his speech during a visit to Peshawar with senior security officials, Sharif stressed Pakistan’s determination to eliminate what he termed the “Khwarij menace” and the “India-backed terrorist network,” reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to securing its borders and fighting terrorism.

While the sanctions committee plays a critical role in maintaining global security, the leadership change and Pakistan’s position in both the UN and its regional relations raise questions about the effectiveness and neutrality of the committee’s actions.

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