Tensions between India and Pakistan resurfaced at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) after India issued a strong and direct rebuttal to Pakistan’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir during an open debate on Women, Peace, and Security held on October 7, 2025.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, delivered a fiery response, accusing Pakistan of hypocrisy and referencing its own history of human rights violations.
The exchange marked yet another round in the decades-long diplomatic sparring between the two South Asian neighbors on the global stage.
India’s Rebuttal: Key Highlights
During his address, Ambassador Harish sharply criticized Pakistan’s delegation for what he called an attempt to “divert global attention through misdirection and hyperbole.”
He framed Pakistan’s comments on Jammu and Kashmir as politically motivated and lacking moral credibility.
Below are the central points of India’s response:
1. Accusations of Systematic Genocide and Mass Rape
Ambassador Harish accused Pakistan of committing “systematic genocide” and conducting a “systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape” during Operation Searchlight in 1971, which preceded the creation of Bangladesh.
He claimed that over 400,000 women were victimized during that campaign, holding Pakistan’s army responsible for atrocities that continue to stain its human rights record.
This statement drew attention to one of the darkest chapters in South Asian history, a moment that India argues disqualifies Pakistan from lecturing others on humanitarian or women’s rights issues.
2. “Bombs Its Own People” Remark
In one of the debate’s most pointed comments, the Indian envoy said Pakistan “bombs its own people”, an apparent reference to recent airstrikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that allegedly resulted in civilian casualties.
The remark underscored India’s criticism of Pakistan’s internal security operations, suggesting that Islamabad’s domestic military actions contradict its public narrative on peace and human rights.
3. “Delusional Tirade” on Jammu and Kashmir
Responding to Pakistan’s recurring claims over Jammu and Kashmir, Ambassador Harish dismissed the remarks as a “delusional tirade” aimed at distracting the UN from real global issues.
He emphasized that Pakistan’s continued references to Kashmir were part of a long-standing propaganda effort rather than a genuine concern for peace or stability.
“Pakistan’s obsession with Jammu and Kashmir is a tired script,” Harish noted, adding that “the world sees through such theatrics.”
4. Accusations of Hypocrisy on Human Rights
India further accused Pakistan of hypocrisy for attempting to portray itself as a defender of human rights and women’s safety while allegedly failing to protect its own citizens.
Harish stated that Pakistan’s history of violence, internal repression, and instability undermines its moral authority on global platforms.
“A nation that persecutes its minorities and silences its women cannot lecture others on human rights,” he said, asserting that the international community “sees through Pakistan’s propaganda.”
Background: Longstanding Tensions at the UN
Exchanges like this are not new between India and Pakistan. For decades, the two countries have used international forums particularly the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the Security Council to voice their opposing positions on Kashmir and other regional issues.
India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter, constitutionally integrated into the Indian Union, while Pakistan continues to call it a disputed territory requiring international intervention.
India’s firm rebuttals at the UN are often aimed at reinforcing its stance that Pakistan sponsors cross-border terrorism while attempting to deflect attention from its internal challenges.
Operation Searchlight: The Historical Reference
By invoking Operation Searchlight (1971), India drew international attention back to a major historical event that remains deeply controversial in South Asian politics.
The operation was a Pakistani military campaign in what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), aimed at suppressing Bengali nationalism.
It resulted in mass killings, sexual violence, and the displacement of millions, ultimately leading to Bangladesh’s independence with India’s support.
India’s reference served both as a historical reminder and a moral argument suggesting that Pakistan’s record on human rights disqualifies it from preaching to others.
Pakistan’s Position
Pakistan, for its part, has repeatedly raised the issue of Kashmir at the UN, framing it as a human rights and self-determination concern.
During the October 7 debate, Pakistan’s representative accused India of committing abuses in Jammu and Kashmir allegations New Delhi categorically denies.
Islamabad argues that India’s actions in the region, particularly after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, have intensified repression and curtailed freedoms.
However, India maintains that these claims are politically motivated and intended to divert attention from Pakistan’s own governance and security problems.
Diplomatic and Political Reactions
India’s strong rebuttal was widely noted by diplomatic observers and media outlets covering the debate.
Analysts described Ambassador Harish’s remarks as one of the most assertive statements from India at the UN in recent years, signaling New Delhi’s unwillingness to let Pakistan’s narrative go unchallenged.
Domestically, Indian commentators praised the envoy’s response as firm and factual, while some international voices called for restraint and renewed dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Conclusion
The latest exchange at the UN Security Council highlights the deep-seated mistrust and enduring rivalry between India and Pakistan.
While India’s representative used historical references and moral arguments to challenge Pakistan’s credibility, Islamabad’s persistent focus on Kashmir shows that the dispute remains far from resolution.
As both nations continue to trade verbal blows on global platforms, the path to meaningful peace and cooperation in South Asia remains uncertain.
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