20 August,2026 10:33 AM IST | United Nations | mid-day online correspondent
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India has said membership of the UN Security Council must not be used as a tool to "legitimise" terrorists by seeking their removal from sanctions regimes or to blacklist entities solely on "political considerations".
Addressing an open debate on the working methods of the Security Council on Wednesday, Charge 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 pursuing narrow political interests.
"Security Council membership brings significant responsibilities. This must not become a platform to pursue narrow political interests," she said.
Patel highlighted the need for greater transparency and objectivity in the listing and de-listing of terrorists and terror entities 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 what it considers a lack of transparency in decisions taken by Security Council sanctions committees on proposals to designate terrorists and terror organisations.
New Delhi has also called for greater openness in the functioning of the Council's subsidiary bodies. While decisions on listings are made public, India has pointed out that details concerning rejected proposals or those placed under technical hold remain the "exclusive preserve" of a select group of members.
India has previously described such practices as a "disguised veto" and raised particular concerns over the functioning of the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
New Delhi has maintained that evidence-based proposals to designate internationally sanctioned terrorists should not be blocked without adequate explanation. It has argued that such practices undermine the Security Council's stated commitment to combating terrorism.
India has previously encountered such hurdles in its efforts to designate Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations. China, a permanent member of the Security Council, has in the past placed holds on or blocked some of India's proposals.
The issue has been a longstanding concern for New Delhi, which has sought greater accountability in the sanctions process and clearer criteria for decisions involving the listing and de-listing of individuals and entities.
India also raised concerns over delays in finalising the chairs of the Security Council's subsidiary bodies, including the 1267 Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions committees.
Eight months into 2026, the Security 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 as a priority and for a "definitive and non-negotiable" timeline to be established for finalising the chairs of the subsidiary bodies.
Denmark, which holds the Security Council presidency for August, also raised concerns over the delay. In a stakeout at the UN headquarters, Denmark said 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 said.
India also called for "greater transparency" for the Council's elected non-permanent members in several ongoing 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 Council's five permanent members and have veto powers.
Patel also stressed that the case for reforming the Security Council has become more urgent as the global order has changed significantly since the body was established.
"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.
(With inputs from PTI)
