Tajikistan Says UNSC Bid Is About Responsibility, Not Status As It Competes With India

Tajikistan has described its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council as an effort to contribute to international peace and security rather than seek diplomatic status, as it competes with India for the sole Asia-Pacific seat for the 2028-29 term.

Addressing the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin said Tajikistan was seeking a place on the 15-member council for the first time. He said the country approached the bid with “humility and determination” and wanted to shoulder greater responsibility within the United Nations.

“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 highlighted Tajikistan’s experience of conflict and peacebuilding, as well as its handling of difficult border issues through dialogue and compromise. Muhriddin said those experiences would inform the country’s approach if elected to the council.

“For us, membership in the Security Council would not be about status,” he said, adding that Tajikistan would seek to uphold the UN Charter, listen to countries “large and small”, build common ground and contribute to international peace and security.

The campaign comes ahead of the June 2027 election, when India and Tajikistan are set to contest the single non-permanent seat allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group for the 2028-29 term. The election requires candidates to secure a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.

Tajikistan has also secured backing from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). OIC member states unanimously supported its candidature in January 2023, while a subsequent OIC conference formally backed the Tajik bid for the 2028-29 term.

India, meanwhile, formally launched its campaign in July. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar unveiled the SHANTI framework — “Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity” — and outlined priorities including giving greater voice to the Global South, reforming multilateral institutions, future-ready peacekeeping, tackling the misuse of artificial intelligence, securing maritime commons and combating terror financing.

Jaishankar also met Muhriddin in New York during the high-level week of the 81st UN General Assembly. Jaishankar described the discussion as covering the region and longstanding India-Tajikistan bilateral cooperation. The two foreign ministers also held a meeting during the UNGA week to discuss bilateral ties and cooperation in international and regional organisations.

India has served on the Security Council eight times, most recently in 2021-22, while Tajikistan has never previously held a seat on the body. The upcoming election will therefore mark a direct contest between India’s established record on the council and Tajikistan’s first bid for membership.