A Fox Guarding the Henhouse: Pakistan's Role in UN Counter-Terrorism Bodies
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: International Relations (United Nations and its agencies - UNSC, its committees; Financial Action Task Force - FATF; International Monetary Fund - IMF); Internal Security (Terrorism, State-sponsored terrorism, Asymmetric warfare).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations): Important International institutions, agencies and fora—their structure, mandate; Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
General Studies Paper 3 (Internal Security): Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security; Security challenges and their management in border areas; Linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
Key Highlights from the News
It is a great irony and controversy that Pakistan, which is widely accused of promoting terrorism, has been appointed to head the main counter-terrorism bodies of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Pakistan has been given the leadership of the Taliban Sanctions Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee.
This move questions the credibility and moral standing of the UN's fight against terrorism.
Main reasons behind this failure:
Ignoring Pakistan's history of supporting terrorist organizations.
Lack of proper scrutiny in the election of leadership in UN committees.
Concessions such as the premature removal of Pakistan from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
Powerful countries supporting Pakistan for their geopolitical interests.
Implications for India:
This will weaken India's efforts to portray Pakistan as a terrorist state.
India's efforts to impose sanctions on Pakistan-based terrorists may be hindered.
Pakistan may try to destabilize India's relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The article suggests that to counter this, India should strengthen its diplomatic relations, expose Pakistan's role in UN forums, and enhance internal security.
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