UNSC membership must not be used to 'legitimise' terrorists: India

UNSC membership must not be applied to 'legitimise' terrorists: India India has previously described such practices as a "disguised veto" and triggered concern over the functioning of the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee in particular.

Key points

• The UN Secretary-General is appointed by the 193-member General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council, where China, France, Russia, the U.K.
• India additionally voiced concern over the delay in finalising chairs of the Security Council's subsidiary bodies, including the 1267 Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions committees.
• India has previously described such practices as a "disguised veto" and triggered concern over the functioning of the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee in particular.
• Eight months into 2026, the Council is yet to finalise the chairs and vice-chairs of its subsidiary bodies, prompting India to call for urgent action.
• Chargé d'Affaires at India's Permanent Mission to the UN Ambassador Yojna Patel.

Chargé d'Affaires at India's Permanent Mission to the UN Ambassador Yojna Patel. File Photo Credit: PTI.

Membership of the UN Security Council must not be applied as a tool to "legitimise" terrorists by seeking their removal from the sanctions regime or to blacklist entities solely on "political considerations", India has stated, asserting that the powerful 15-nation body must not become a platform for pursuing narrow interests.

Addressing a Security Council open debate on working methods on Wednesday (August 19, 2026), Chargé d'Affaires at India's Permanent Mission to the UN Ambassador Yojna Patel flagged the need for greater transparency and objectivity in the listing and de-listing of terrorists and terror entities under the Council's sanctions regimes.

"Security Council membership brings significant responsibilities. This must not become a platform to pursue narrow political interests, " she remarked.

"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, " Ms. Patel remarked.

India has consistently called out the opaque manner in which decisions are created under the UNSC sanctions committees on proposals to designate terrorists and terror organisations.

New Delhi has additionally called on greater transparency in the working of the Council's subsidiary bodies, pointing out that while decisions on listings are created public, details relating to the rejection of proposals or their placement under technical hold remain the "exclusive preserve" of a select few.

New Delhi has remarked evidence-based proposals to designate internationally sanctioned terrorists should not be blocked without adequate explanation, arguing that such practices undermine the Council's stated commitment to combating terrorism.

India has previously faced such hurdles in its attempts to designate Pakistan-based terrorists, with China, a permanent member of the Security Council, having placed holds or blocked some of the proposals.

"Subsidiary bodies serve significant functions and enable better implementation of Security Council mandates. Nevertheless, these bodies have not been able to deliver optimally in the recent past, primarily due to the delay in finalising the Chairs, " Ms. Patel remarked.

She pressed the problem 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, remarked in a stakeout at the UN headquarters that the "unprecedented delay" in appointing chairs of the UNSC subsidiary bodies "undermines the Council's effectiveness, credibility and institutional integrity".

Council members pressed flexibility and political will to resolve this impasse, Denmark observed.

India additionally called on "greater transparency" for the Council's elected non-permanent members in a number of ongoing processes of the Security Council.

"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, " Ms. Patel remarked.

For context, the UN Secretary-General is appointed by the 193-member General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council, where China, France, Russia, the U.K. And the U.S. Are permanent members with veto powers.

Ms. Patel emphasised that the need for reforming the Security Council is more pronounced and pressing than ever before.

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 remarked.

Taken together, the developments around UNSC membership must not be used to ' legitimise' terrorists: India point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.