Tajikistan says UN Security Council bid is about peace, not status

Tajikistan, which is competing with India for the sole Asia-Pacific non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term, has said its bid is focused on contributing to international peace and security rather than seeking status. The election is due to be held in June next year.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly debate on Saturday, Tajikistan Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin set out his country’s pitch for the seat. He said a stronger United Nations requires member states willing to take on greater responsibility and said Tajikistan was ready to do so.

"Tajikistan is ready to do so. For the first time in its history, Tajikistan is seeking election to the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-2029 term. We approach this responsibility with humility and determination," Muhriddin said. He added, "Tajikistan would bring the experience of a country that has known conflict and built peace, that has faced difficult borders and chosen dialogue and compromise."

He said, "For us, membership in the Security Council would not be about status. It would be about responsibility to uphold the Charter, to listen to all voices, large and small, to seek common ground where divisions persist, and to contribute constructively to the maintenance of international peace and security."

Against this backdrop, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Muhriddin on Thursday on the sidelines of the high-level General Debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting came as both countries prepare for the high-stakes contest for the seat. "So glad to meet my friend FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan. A good discussion on the region and our longstanding bilateral cooperation," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

In July, Jaishankar launched India’s official campaign for a non-permanent Security Council seat at an event at the UN headquarters attended by ambassadors, diplomats and officials. He said India’s approach to the UN is rooted in "SHANTI: Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity" and outlined India’s priorities for the 2028-29 term as being "a voice of the Global South; advancing reformed multilateralism; a future-ready peacekeeping; addressing threats posed due to misuse of AI; securing maritime commons; countering terror financing".

The election for the 2028-29 term will be held in June next year, with India and Tajikistan in the fray for the only seat in the Asia-Pacific Group category. India last served on the 15-member Security Council in 2021-22, its eighth term, while Tajikistan is seeking a place on the body for the first time.