new delhi, Aug 20
India has warned that membership of the UN Security Council must not be used to “legitimise” terrorists or pursue political interests, calling for greater transparency and objectivity in decisions on the listing and de-listing of terrorists and terror organisations. Addressing a Security Council open debate on working methods on Wednesday, Chargé d’Affaires at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Ambassador Yojna Patel said the powerful 15-member body must not become a platform for narrow political interests. “Security Council membership brings significant responsibilities. This must not become a platform to pursue narrow political interests,” she said.
Patel stressed the need for objective criteria and supporting evidence in decisions taken under the Council’s sanctions regimes. “Listing and de-listing are a case in point. There must be more transparency and objectivity on this front. Presence in the Security Council must not be instrumentalised to legitimise terrorists by attempting to de-list them or to list other entities as terrorist organisations based solely on political considerations, without any objective criteria or supporting documentation,” Patel said.
India has repeatedly criticised the opaque decision-making process under the UNSC sanctions committees on proposals to designate terrorists and terror organisations. New Delhi has also sought greater transparency in the functioning of the Council’s subsidiary bodies. While decisions on listings are made public, details about rejected proposals or those placed under technical hold remain the “exclusive preserve” of a select few. India has previously termed such practices a “disguised veto” and raised particular concerns over the functioning of the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
New Delhi has argued that evidence-based proposals to designate internationally sanctioned terrorists should not be blocked without adequate explanation, saying such practices weaken the Security Council’s stated commitment to combating terrorism.
India has faced similar hurdles in efforts to designate Pakistan-based terrorists, with China, a permanent member of the Security Council, placing holds on or blocking some of the proposals.
India flags delay in UNSC subsidiary body appointments
India also raised concern over the delay in finalising chairs of the Security Council’s subsidiary bodies, including the 1267 Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions committees.
Eight months into 2026, the Council is yet to finalise the chairs and vice-chairs of its subsidiary bodies. India called for urgent action to resolve the delay.
“Subsidiary bodies serve important functions and enable better implementation of Security Council mandates. However, these bodies have not been able to deliver optimally in the recent past, primarily due to the delay in finalising the Chairs,” Patel said.
She called for the issue to be addressed on priority and for a “definitive and non-negotiable” timeline to be established for finalising the chairs of subsidiary bodies.
Denmark, which holds the Security Council presidency for August, said in a stakeout at the UN headquarters tha t the “unprecedented delay” in appointing chairs of the UNSC subsidiary bodies “undermines the Council’s effectiveness, credibility and institutional integrity”.
Council members called for flexibility and political will to resolve the impasse, Denmark noted.
India seeks greater role for elected UNSC members
India also called for “greater transparency” for elected non-permanent members in several ongoing Security Council processes.
“For instance, elected members, and by implication, the General Assembly, must have a greater say in crucial aspects such as election of the UN Secretary-General,” Patel said.
The UN Secretary-General is appointed by the 193-member General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. China, France, Russia, the UK and the US are the five permanent members with veto powers.
Patel also stressed that Security Council reform has become more urgent than ever.
“Our joint endeavour must be on appropriately equipping the UNSC to address contemporary and future challenges. The world of 1945 has changed beyond recognition.
“UN membership has grown four-fold since then. The outcome of one conflict 80 years ago cannot determine the composition, dynamics, approaches and working methods for perpetuity. This needs to change and must happen at the earliest,” she said.
