Pakistan strongly criticised India at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), accusing New Delhi of sponsoring terrorism, violating international law, suppressing minorities and continuing its “illegal occupation” of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking during the UNSC’s annual debate on the protection of civilians, Pakistan’s Counsellor on Human Rights at the Permanent Mission to the UN, Saima Saleem, said India had attempted to portray itself as a victim before the international community.
“India appeared before this Council wearing the mask of a victim, but the world can now see the face behind that mask,” she remarked while exercising Pakistan’s right of reply.
Her response came after India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, accused Pakistan of failing to meet its international humanitarian obligations and targeting civilians. He also repeated allegations relating to an attack on a hospital in Kabul earlier this year.
Rejecting the claims, Saima Saleem alleged that India had been involved in sponsoring terrorism inside Pakistan through militant proxies. She claimed that groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army and the Majeed Brigade had carried out attacks against Pakistani civilians and security personnel with support allegedly facilitated from Afghan territory.
She said Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations were “precise, deliberate and professional”, adding that the strikes were directed at militant hideouts, training facilities, ammunition depots and infrastructure allegedly used to launch attacks against Pakistan. According to her, Afghan civilians were not targeted during the operations.
Referring to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistani envoy described the territory as an internationally recognised dispute that remains on the UNSC agenda. She alleged that residents of the region continued to face killings, arbitrary detentions, demolition of homes, restrictions on civil liberties and denial of their right to self-determination.
Saima Saleem also criticised India over the treatment of minorities, alleging that discrimination against Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits and Christians had intensified under what she termed “state-sponsored Hindutva extremism”.
She further accused India of weaponising water resources by questioning the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that such actions could threaten the food and water security of millions of people in Pakistan.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s position, the diplomat said the country remained committed to peace, dialogue, respect for sovereignty and the resolution of disputes through international law and relevant UN resolutions.
