Priyanka Chaturvedi slams UN: Pakistan’s terror role akin to Nobel nod for Masood Azhar?

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi sharply criticized the United Nations Security Council's decision to appoint Pakistan as the vice-chair of its Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC). She condemned the move as "akin to nominating Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed for the Nobel Peace Prize," highlighting the irony of Pakistan's role despite harboring 52 designated terrorists within its borders.

Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2025-26 term, will also chair the Council's Taliban Sanctions Committee in 2025. However, government sources noted that the vice-chair position on the CTC, which Pakistan holds, is not very substantive.

Chaturvedi's remarks came during an address to the Indian community in Berlin, where she reaffirmed India's firm stance against terrorism, stating that the country will "fight against terrorists without any hesitation."

The appointment has drawn criticism as Pakistan's aspirations to lead multiple key UN Security Council terrorism-related committees have been largely unmet, securing only the chairship of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee. India's view is that this outcome reflects Pakistan's limited standing and credibility within the UN.

Furthermore, Pakistan's demands delayed the allocation process of UN committees by about five months, causing a lack of consensus within the UNSC.

"Pakistan's aspirations to lead multiple key UN Security Council terrorism-related committees have been largely unmet, securing only the chairship of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee," a source said.

The controversy underscores ongoing tensions regarding Pakistan's role in global counter-terrorism efforts and the UN's decisions amid geopolitical complexities.

Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized the UN Security Council for appointing Pakistan as vice-chair of its counter-terrorism panel, likening it to awarding Masood Azhar a Nobel Prize. Despite Pakistan hosting 52 designated terrorists, it will chair the Taliban Sanctions Committee in 2025 as a non-permanent UNSC member.