Explainer: Pakistan as UN Security Council President in July 2025

Even as India appears to be getting diplomatically isolated, Pakistan’s stock seems to have increased. Its relationship with China, Russia and the US appears to have dramatically improved in recent months–despite Operation Sindoor and India’s diplomatic outreach to identify Pakistan as sponsors of terror.

The presidency of the UN Security Council, though it is largely symbolic and lasts for a month, would seem to have added more heft to Pakistan’s standing. Not surprisingly, many in India are upset.

However, the presidency of the security council is largely symbolic, routine and inconsequential. India too was a non-permanent member of the Security Council during 2021-22 and chaired the Security Council for a month. The geo-political situation has changed since then quite dramatically and Pakistan takes over the presidency at a more critical juncture and may well play a more important role.

India is therefore rightly apprehensive about Pakistan internationalising the Kashmir issue and affecting India’s standing as leader of the Global South. India’s Middle East Policy and its relationship with countries like Iran, Turkey and OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) countries are also under stress and may face turbulence in future.

Pakistan as UN Security Council President: Non-permanent members of the UN security council get to be the president for a month and thus chair the council by rotation in an alphabetical order. The security council comprises five permanent members (P5) and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly.

Pakistan was elected as a member of the security council for a two-year term beginning January, 2025 after being supported by 182 out of the 193 member countries in the UN general Assembly. Pakistan's earlier terms on the Security Council were in 2012-13, 2003-04, 1993-94, 1983-84, 1976- 77, 1968-69 and 1952-53.

Why has it surprised, shocked Indians?

Coming close on the heels of the Pahalgam terror attack, which India alleged was sponsored by Pakistan, and Operation Sindoor in retaliation, Pakistan’s acceptability in international fora appears to have surprised sections in India. Pakistan’s term in the Security Council had already begun in January, 2025 though.

India’s decision to unilaterally attack targets in Pakistan was against international law and India finds itself on a weak wicket to defend its decision. The lunch hosted by the US president for Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) accepting Pakistan’s allegation that India was instigating separatists in Balochistan, which was followed by China, Pakistan and Bangladesh discussing informally the feasibility of a new grouping in South Asia to replace the dormant SAARC reflected Pakistan’s rising diplomatic stock.

Above all, India has consistently accused Pakistan of harbouring terror networks but failed to stop Pakistan securing the overwhelming support in the UN General Assembly. Pakistan’s presidency of the security council thus has shocked the BJP supporters in India.  

What can Pakistan do in July, 2025 as Security Council President? Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who will preside over Security Council meetings in July, told Associated Press of Pakistan that he was fully aware of the complex geo-political scenario, growing instability and threats to international peace and security, marked by rising conflicts and deepening humanitarian crises. He held out the assurance that Pakistan’s role as president will be non-partisan and consensual.

The presidency will convene two high-level events during July: an open debate on 'Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes', to be held on 22 July and a briefing on 'Cooperation between the United Nations and Regional and Sub-Regional Organisations: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)', scheduled for 24 July.

Both meetings will be chaired by Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’ deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan, who will also preside over the quarterly open debate on the Question of Palestine on 23 July, it added. In addition, Pakistan will also chair the Taliban Sanctions Committee of the UNSC in 2025 and serve as vice-chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the 15-nation UN body.

The Taliban Sanctions Committee imposes assets freeze, travel bans and arms embargo on individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan. Pakistan will also be co-chair of the Informal Working Groups on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions and on the General UNSC Sanctions Issues.