Straitjacketed UNSC on Terrorism

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in a subtle manner delivered some sobering remarks about how
ineffective the UN has been in putting an end to international terrorism fourteen years after the 26/11 Mumbai
terrorist attack. A recording of Sajid Mir, one of the attack planners, speaking to the terrorists was played during
Jaishankar's presentation to the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting in Mumbai, which was held at the Taj
Hotel, the scene of the attack's biggest destruction in November 2008. According to Jaishankar, “…the primary
conspirators and planners of the 26/11 terror attack continue to stay protected and unpunished…,” and the Security
Council “in certain cases has been unable to act due to political concerns.”
“We have worked with India to put up nominations to designate numerous terrorists under the UN 1267
Resolution,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken seconded this. These designations should have the support of
all pertinent parties and no country should obstruct them.
Mir is a terrorist from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and China last month prevented the UN from designating him as a
global terrorist. The Chinese consulate in Mumbai's deputy consul general, Wang Yanhua, correctly deduced which
“country” was being discussed and urged all parties to “avoid mutual accusations and politicising technical issues.”
The 26/11 incident, in which 166 people were slaughtered by 10 Pakistani terrorists, has been held captive by
national vested interests, undermining the UN's resolve to combat terrorism. The matter is particularly delicate
because there is proof that army personnel, including Col. R. Sadatullah of Pakistan's Special Communications
Organisation, an army-run communications organisation, planned, enabled, and oversaw the attack.
The sole survivor of the ten terrorists, Ajmal Kasab, was hanged in India in 2012 following a long and fair trial.
Hafiz Saeed, a co-founder of the LeT, and the other attack conspirators, including Pakistani army personnel, have
successfully evaded justice. Saeed was only found guilty of financing terrorism and given a 33-year prison
sentence as a result of pressure from the Financial Action Task Force, a global organisation that monitors money
laundering and terrorism. The fact that Pakistan has done nothing to stop the plotters supports the theory that they
are army personnel.
This is a depressing reflection on the UN's effectiveness. This helplessness of the world body clearly depict that
petty politics and strategic interests have been overshadowed the real issue of terrorism the world encounters. It also pin
points that some countries having special power and clout are not sincere in what they say and their actions.