United Nations, June 9: India launched a strong attack on Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), accusing Islamabad of hypocrisy and condemning its military actions in Afghanistan that resulted in significant civilian casualties.
Speaking during a UNSC discussion on the situation in Afghanistan on Monday, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, P. Harish, firmly defended the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and rejected Pakistan’s criticism of the mission and the UN Secretary-General’s report on Afghanistan.
“Pakistan questioned the intent of UNAMA and the veracity of the Secretary-General’s report. We would like to stress that support for multilateralism and the United Nations is not an à la carte menu,” Harish said.
India also criticized Pakistan for conducting airstrikes in Afghanistan during the holy month of Ramadan while simultaneously advocating principles of international law and Islamic solidarity.
“Pakistan’s air strikes on Afghanistan during Ramadan, while espousing high principles of international law and Islamic solidarity, are a perfect example of hypocrisy,” Harish stated.
Reiterating India’s support for the UN Secretary-General’s concerns regarding civilian casualties, Harish emphasized the need for accountability and adherence to international humanitarian law.
“We support the Secretary-General’s call urging compliance with obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and ensuring protection of civilians,” he said.
According to the Secretary-General’s report, 372 Afghans were killed and 392 injured between January 26 and March 31, with the majority of casualties resulting from airstrikes and some from cross-border firing.
The report highlighted a particularly devastating airstrike on Kabul’s Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital on March 16, which reportedly killed at least 269 people and injured 122 others, most of them patients.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, had questioned the credibility of UNAMA’s reporting and argued that Pakistan’s military actions were part of counter-terrorism operations.
Rejecting that justification, Harish said, “Dressing up a massacre as a military operation does not absolve the perpetrator. Killing, maiming and orphaning civilians is not counter-terrorism.”
India reiterated its full support for UNAMA and its mandate, emphasizing the mission’s crucial role in promoting peace, stability, and humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan amid challenging circumstances.
The sharp exchange at the Security Council underscores growing tensions between India and Pakistan over regional security issues and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
