India Demands Urgent UNSC Reforms, Criticizes Pakistan's Terror Support

Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs, urged for immediate UNSC reforms to enhance representativeness and accountability. Lal criticized Pakistan's alleged terrorism support and reiterated India's commitment to nuclear disarmament during a UNSC debate on leadership for peace.

Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) at India's Ministry of External Affairs, stressed the urgent need for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms to make it more representative, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable. Speaking at the UNSC Open Debate on Leadership for Peace, Lal criticized the current multilateral response to global conflicts as inadequate.

Lal highlighted the severe impacts of armed conflicts on lives, economies, and societies worldwide. He pointed out that the current multilateral mechanisms have failed to effectively address these conflicts as well as threats from terrorism and transnational organized crimes. Lal stated that the UNSC's structure, designed eight decades ago, needs to evolve to meet today's challenges.

Lal emphasized that stakeholders opposing meaningful changes to the global governance structure are harming the UN's credibility and overshadowing its efforts in development and humanitarian sectors. During his speech, he also criticized Pakistan for allegedly supporting terrorism, urging the international community to firmly reject such actions. India, which has long sought a permanent seat in the UNSC, has received growing international support for its bid.

The UNSC consists of 15 members, including five permanent members (China, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States) with veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. At a separate UN event, Lal reaffirmed India's commitment to nuclear disarmament, calling nuclear weapons a grievous danger to humanity.

(With inputs from agencies.)