India to head UNSC panel on combating terror

NEW DELHI: India has scored early successes in the UN Security Council. In its first week, Hardeep Puri, India's permanent representative in the UN, was elected to chair the key counter-terrorism committee (UNSCR 1373) and international security committee (UNSCR 1566). India will also chair two other committees on Somalia and Eritrea.

The counter-terrorism committee is important for India since combating terrorism is one of its biggest international diplomatic planks. The 1373 committee has to monitor countries' implementation of the UNSC resolution 1373 — i.e. undertake efforts to counter terrorism within their territories.

A statement from the Indian mission details these measures: Criminalize the financing of terrorism; freeze terror funds; wipe out safe havens (a provision that is expressly aimed at Pakistan); cooperate with other governments in the investigation and prosecution of terrorists.