Team Blitz India
POINTING indirectly at China, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj criticised countries wielding veto powers to block evidence-based terrorist listings at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
She expressed concern at the lack of justification for rejecting listing requests, branding it as “uncalled for” and “doublespeak” in fighting terrorism.
“This is a disguised veto, but an even more impervious one that indeed merits discussion among the wider membership. For genuine evidence-based listing proposals for globally sanctioned terrorists to be blocked without giving any due justification is uncalled for and smacks of doublespeak when it comes to the Council’s commitment to tackling the challenge of terrorism,” Kamboj said.
She condemned the “custom-made working methods” of obscure subsidiary bodies within the UNSC, emphasising the need for transparency in their decision-making processes, particularly regarding rejection of listing requests.
Peacekeeping madates
Kamboj recalled China’s technical hold on designating Sajid Mir, linked to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, as a global terrorist, highlighting the need for consensus among member states for UNSC proposals. China had effectively blocked a proposal to designate Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mir as a global terrorist.
India emphasised the importance of considering concerns from troopcontributing countries for effective peacekeeping mandates, calling for a review of the council’s agenda to remove outdated items. “As one of the largest troop-contributing countries, my delegation would like to reiterate that the concerns of the troops and police contributing countries should be taken into consideration for better implementation of peacekeeping mandates.” Kamboj said.
