India blasts Pakistan at UN: Reminds World of 1971 mass rape of 400,000 women
India hit back at Pakistan in the United Nations Security Council on Friday. The sharp exchange came during a debate on “Women, Peace and Security.” Pakistan again raised the Kashmir issue, prompting a strong response from India.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, tore into Pakistan’s claims. He accused Islamabad of misusing global forums to spread propaganda. “Every year, we are unfortunately fated to listen to Pakistan’s delusional tirade against my country, especially on Jammu and Kashmir — the Indian territory they covet,” Harish said.
He reminded the Council of Pakistan’s own dark history. “This is a country that conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971 and sanctioned a systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women citizens by its own army,” he stated firmly. “The world sees through Pakistan’s propaganda.”
Harish described Pakistan as “a country that bombs its own people and conducts systematic genocide.” He said Islamabad uses “misdirection and hyperbole” to distract the international community from its crimes.
Pakistan’s representative, Saima Saleem, earlier claimed that Kashmiri women suffered sexual violence for decades. She called such violence “a weapon of war” and urged the UN to include the “plight” of Kashmiri women in future reports.
India’s envoy dismissed those allegations. He reaffirmed India’s “unblemished” record on women, peace, and security. Harish highlighted India’s commitment to empowering women in peacekeeping roles. He said India recognized early that women serve as “indispensable agents of peace.”
He reminded the Council that India deployed women medical officers to Congo in the 1960s. “Our women peacekeepers have saved lives and brought dignity to conflict zones,” he said.
Earlier this year, India hosted the International Conference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global South. The event brought together women peacekeepers from 35 nations. Delegates shared experiences and built strategies for increasing women’s participation in global peace missions.
The debate also marked the 25th anniversary of UN Resolution 1325. The resolution focuses on protecting women’s rights during conflicts and ensuring their role in peacebuilding.
India emphasized that it continues to uphold the principles of Resolution 1325 through its actions and global partnerships. Harish said, “We don’t just speak about women’s empowerment; we demonstrate it on the ground.”
He urged the global community to focus on genuine peacebuilding efforts rather than divisive politics. “Pakistan must stop exploiting international platforms to peddle falsehoods,” he added.
This exchange was not new. India has repeatedly countered Pakistan’s propaganda at the UN. In September, India also rebuked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at the UN General Assembly. At that time, New Delhi accused Pakistan of “peddling misdirected facts” on Jammu and Kashmir.
As the latest debate closed, India’s strong words echoed in the chamber. New Delhi once again turned Pakistan’s accusations back on itself — reminding the world of 1971, of atrocities long denied, and of a truth that still demands accountability.
