Subhechcha Ganguly 
India delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan during the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on Women, Peace, and Security, after Islamabad made controversial remarks regarding the “plight of Kashmiri women.”
Speaking at the session, Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, accused Pakistan of indulging in a “delusional tirade” against India, especially on Jammu and Kashmir — a territory “it covets.”
“Every year, we are unfortunately fated to listen to the delusional tirade of Pakistan against my country,” Harish said, slamming Islamabad for attempting to mislead the global community with exaggerated claims. He further condemned Pakistan’s track record on women’s rights, citing the 1971 Operation Searchlight, during which the Pakistani Army was responsible for the genocidal mass rape of around 400,000 Bengali women.
“This is a country that conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971 and sanctioned a systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of its own citizens. The world sees through Pakistan’s propaganda,” Harish asserted.
India’s statement came in response to Saima Saleem, Counsellor at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, who alleged that Kashmiri women have endured decades of sexual violence under “occupation.” Saleem claimed that international organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented these violations.
The UNSC debate marked the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325, which focuses on preventing violence against women and ensuring their participation in peacebuilding processes.
This latest exchange follows India’s recent criticism of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at the UN General Assembly in September, where he presented misleading claims regarding Operation Sindoor — India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
India reaffirmed that it will continue to expose Pakistan’s hypocrisy on human rights and women’s safety, both within its borders and in international forums.
