On June 4, 2025, Pakistan was appointed as the chair of the UN committee overseeing sanctions on the Afghan Taliban, officially known as the 1988 Sanctions Committee. This role will be led by Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Aamir Iftikhar, until December 31, 2025.
According to a statement by Pakistan’s mission in New York, “This is a significant diplomatic development, as the committee will oversee the implementation of sanctions on the Afghan Taliban.” Additionally, Pakistan has been elected as the vice-chair of the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his views on X, saying, “These appointments reflect the international community’s confidence in Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts.”
What is the 1988 Sanctions Committee?
The Afghan Taliban sanctions committee, known as the 1988 Sanctions Committee, was established under United Nations resolution 1988 in 2011. Its primary role includes imposing or removing sanctions on Taliban leaders, monitoring their assets, implementing travel bans, and overseeing restrictions on organizations affiliated with the Taliban.
The committee was created to promote peace in Afghanistan and monitor Taliban-linked activities to reduce potential threats to the country’s stability. Despite the establishment of the Taliban-led interim government, the committee’s objectives have not changed.
In the past, senior Taliban leaders were on the committee’s sanctions list. However, a number of names have since been removed, lifting travel bans and easing restrictions.
How does the Committee make decisions?
The committee comprises 15 member states, including the permanent members of the UN Security Council— the USA, China, France, Russia, and the UK— and 10 non-permanent members, including Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.
The committee operates on a consensus basis, meaning all members must agree for any decision to pass. For example, if a member state proposes sanctions or the removal of sanctions on an individual or organization, it must provide supporting details. If members cannot agree, the decision is placed on hold and must be resolved within 10 days.
While the permanent members of the Security Council hold veto power, this cannot be directly applied to decisions made within the 1988 Sanctions Committee. However, any resolution requiring Security Council approval can be vetoed.
