• India has stepped up efforts to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a UN-listed terror outfit for its alleged involvement in carrying out the Pahalgam attack.

• An Indian delegation has met top officials of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).

• The Resistance Front (TRF), a front for Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), had claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22.

• India’s push at the UN also comes after the UN Security Council issued a press statement in which the members had condemned the Pahalgam attack in the strongest terms but did not mention TRF as the group responsible for the attack.

• Several Pakistan-based terror entities and individuals are listed under the 1267 Al Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council and are subject to an assets freeze, arms embargo and travel ban.

• The 1267 ISIL (Da’esh) Al-Qaida Committee oversees the sanctions imposed by the Security Council.

United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)

• The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) was established in September 2011 to promote international counter-terrorism cooperation and support Member States in the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy through a voluntary contribution of the government of Saudi Arabia.

• On June 15, 2017, the UN General Assembly established the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and decided to transfer UNCCT, together with its staff and all associated resources, to the new Office. 

• The creation of the UNOCT is considered as the first major institutional reform undertaken by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres following his report on the capability of the United Nations to assist Member States in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. 

Main functions of UNOCT:

i) Provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates entrusted to the Secretary-General from across the United Nations system.

ii) Enhance coordination and coherence across the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

iii) Strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States.

iv) Improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilisation for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts.

v) Ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the United Nations system and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.

vi) Strengthen the delivery of the United Nations counter-terrorism capacity building assistance to Member States, through the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT).

• The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its biennial General Assembly Review resolutions provide the substance of UNOCT’s mandate.

Pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy:

The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is composed of four pillars. 

They are:

i) Measures to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.

ii) Measures to prevent and combat terrorism.

iii) Measures to build States’ capacity to prevent and combat terrorism and to strengthen the role of the United Nations system in that regard.

iv) Measures to ensure respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis of the fight against terrorism.

• The UNOCT works closely with UN Member States, UN entities, civil society, international and regional organisations, academia and other stakeholders strengthening existing and developing new partnerships to effectively prevent and counter terrorism.

The United Nations Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism

• The Fund was established in 2009 by the Secretary-General and transferred to UNOCT when it was created in 2017 following General Assembly resolution. 

• The Fund accepts contributions from governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, private institutions and individuals. 

• Contributions may be unearmarked or earmarked for one of UNOCT’s global programmes or specific initiatives. 

• Since its inception in 2009 until March 31, 2024, UNOCT mobilised $379.5 million in pledges from 42 funding partners and through allocations from the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund.

Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)

• The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) was established by UN Security Council in the wake of 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

• The Committee, comprising all 15 Security Council members, was tasked with monitoring implementation of measures intended to enhance their legal and institutional ability to counter terrorist activities at home, in their regions and around the world.

It includes taking steps to:

i) Criminalise the financing of terrorism.

ii) Freeze without delay any funds related to persons involved in acts of terrorism.

iii) Deny all forms of financial support for terrorist groups.

iv) Suppress the provision of safe haven, sustenance or support for terrorists.

v) Share information with other governments on any groups practicing or planning terrorist acts.

vi) Cooperate with other governments in the investigation, detection, arrest, extradition and prosecution of those involved in such acts.

vii) Criminalise active and passive assistance for terrorism in domestic law and bring violators to justice.

• The UNSC established the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to assist the work of the CTC and coordinate the process of monitoring the implementation of the measures.

• CTED became fully staffed in September 2005 and was formally declared operational in December 2005. 

• CTED’s mandate was extended until the end of 2025.

• CTED comprises some 40 staff members, about half of whom are legal experts who analyze the reports submitted by States in areas such as legislative drafting, the financing of terrorism, border and customs controls, police and law enforcement, refugee and migration law, arms trafficking and maritime and transportation security. CTED also has a senior human rights officer.

• CTED is divided into two sections: an Assessment and Technical Assistance Office (ATAO), which is further divided into three geographical clusters to enable the experts to specialise in particular regions of the world, and an Administrative and Information Office (AIO).

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