India delivered a strong rebuke to Pakistan on Friday after its neighbor raised the Kashmir issue during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, condemned Pakistan’s remarks as a “mischievous provocation” rooted in misinformation, calling the attempt both “despicable” and inappropriate for the UNSC forum.
During the UNSC debate on “Women Building Peace in a Changing Environment,” Harish voiced India’s Right of Reply, criticizing Pakistan for using the platform for “political propaganda” unrelated to the agenda.
“It is despicable yet entirely predictable that one delegation has indulged in mischievous provocation based on their tried and tested tactic of spreading misinformation and disinformation. It’s completely misplaced to indulge in such political propaganda at this important annual debate,” he remarked.
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In response to Pakistan’s comments, Harish highlighted the conditions of minority women in Pakistan, bringing attention to the challenges faced by Hindu, Sikh, and Christian communities. “The condition of women belonging to minority communities in that country remains deplorable,” he stated, citing reports from Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission.
He referenced data estimating that around 1,000 minority women in Pakistan face abduction, forced conversions, and forced marriages each year, adding, “I could go on, but I end here.”
India’s Commitment to Women, Peace, and Security
Alongside condemning Pakistan’s remarks, India expressed its appreciation to Switzerland for organizing the debate and reaffirmed its commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. Harish underscored India’s dedication as the 25th anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325 approaches, a landmark resolution emphasizing women’s participation in peace-building.
“We recognize that sustainable peace requires women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation at all levels of decision-making, including politics, governance, institution-building, rule of law, the security sector, and economic recovery,” Harish said.
He also pointed to India’s contributions to WPS initiatives, recalling the 2007 deployment of the first all-female police unit to Liberia, which received widespread praise within Liberia and the UN.
Highlighting India’s Women Peacekeepers and Legislative Progress
Harish noted that over 100 Indian women peacekeepers are currently deployed worldwide, including three all-female Female Engagement Teams. He mentioned Major Radhika Sen, who in 2023 received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her service in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
India’s Permanent Representative also highlighted the Women’s Reservation Bill, passed in 2023, which seeks to expand women’s representation in political decision-making roles. Harish emphasized that this legislative progress aligns with India’s commitment to empowering women politically and socially.
In his closing, Harish pledged India’s dedication to transforming the WPS agenda into actionable outcomes, stating, “India stands ready to work with all stakeholders to foster a more peaceful, inclusive, and gender-equal world.”
