What Did India Say About Pakistan’s Role in Terrorism and Civilian Protection?

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, made a powerful statement at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during a debate focused on civilian protection in conflict zones. India took a strong stance against Pakistan’s support for Pakistan-based terrorists, criticizing the country’s use of civilians as human shields and accusing it of shielding UN-designated terrorists. Ambassador Harish’s comments underscored the hypocrisy of Pakistan’s position on civilian protection, drawing attention to Pakistan’s ongoing support for terrorism and failure to distinguish between civilians and militants. The statement also emphasized the violation of International Humanitarian Law and called for a more focused, global approach to ensuring the protection of civilians in conflict areas.

In his statement, Ambassador Harish made it clear that the protection of civilians should not be used as a cover for the actions of UN-designated terrorists. India accused Pakistan of using “civilian cover” to shield and advance terrorism, pointing to the country’s grossly hypocritical position at the UNSC. Harish noted that Pakistan has consistently failed to distinguish between terrorists and civilians, citing examples where senior Pakistani officials attended terrorist funerals in honor of militants killed in Indian operations.

For instance, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) leaders, such as Hafiz Abdur Rauf, have received support from Pakistan’s top military officials, further fueling the narrative that Pakistan actively encourages terrorism under the guise of civilian protection. India questioned Pakistan’s credibility to lecture the world on protecting civilians when it has continuously promoted cross-border terrorism, leaving innocent civilians vulnerable.

How did India respond to Pakistan’s accusations about Indian military operations?

Pakistan has often claimed that Indian military operations target civilians in Kashmir. However, India rejected these claims, asserting that Pakistan’s military itself has been involved in cross-border shelling, violating international law, and causing civilian casualties. Harish pointed out that Pakistan’s military and terrorist nexus is central to its operations, and India holds Pakistan responsible for not only sponsoring terrorism but also using civilians as human shields in warfare.

Ambassador Harish also reminded the UNSC that, despite Pakistan’s accusations, the Pakistani government and military have been complicit in creating and maintaining the terrorist threat. He stated that the real issue lies in the way Pakistan military and terrorism are intertwined, making it impossible to see any significant change in Pakistan’s approach toward cross-border terrorism.