India to host UNSC meet on counterterrorism in October

Tags: National News

For the first time, India will host diplomats and officials from all 15 countries of the UN Security Council, including China, Russia and the United States, for a special meeting on terrorism in October.

Important facts

• India is chairing the meeting of the Anti-Terrorism Committee (CTC) as a member of the UNSC.

• The meeting will particularly focus on challenges such as terrorism financing, cyber threats and use of drones.

• India will attempt to highlight cross-border threats from Pakistan and Afghanistan in this meeting to be held two months before India completes its term as an elected member of the UNSC (2021-22).

• In addition, India is pushing the members of the United Nations to adopt a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (first proposed in 1996), which is likely to be taken up during the meeting.

Counter-Terrorism Committee of UNSC

• It was established by Security Council Resolution 1373, which was adopted unanimously on 28 September 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US.

• It includes all permanent and non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

• The committee was tasked with overseeing the implementation of Resolution 1373, which urged countries to implement a number of measures aimed at increasing their legal and institutional capacity to combat terrorist activities both domestically and around the world.

About UNSC

• It was established in 1945 by the United Nations Charter.

• It is one of the six major organs of the United Nations.

• The other 5 organs of the United Nations are - the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat.

• It has five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, collectively known as the P5. 

• Any one of them can veto a resolution.

• Headquarters - New York