India Slams Pakistan at UNSC Over Civilian Attacks in Afghanistan
The Indian envoy accused Pakistan of disregarding international humanitarian obligations and ignoring calls by the UN Secretary-General to protect civilians
New York: Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, accused Pakistan of having a long record of involvement in genocidal acts against civilians during the Annual UNSC Open Debate on “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.”
Parvathaneni said that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented 750 civilian deaths and injuries in the first three months of 2026 due to cross-border armed violence carried out by Pakistani military forces, most of which resulted from airstrikes.
“It is ironic that Pakistan, with its long-tainted record of genocidal acts, has chosen to refer to issues that are strictly internal to India,” he said.
He further stated that UNAMA attributed 94 out of 95 incidents of civilian casualties to Pakistani security forces. Referring to an alleged strike during Ramadan, Parvathaneni said Pakistan carried out an airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, killing 269 civilians and injuring 122 others.
“The world has not forgotten that it was during the holy month of Ramadan in March this year, at a time of peace, reflection, and mercy, that Pakistan conducted a barbaric airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul,” he said.
The Indian envoy accused Pakistan of disregarding international humanitarian obligations and ignoring calls by the UN Secretary-General to protect civilians.
“It is hypocritical to espouse high principles of international law while targeting innocent civilians in the dark,” he said, adding that the strikes took place after tarawih prayers when many patients were leaving the mosque.
Parvathaneni also highlighted the displacement crisis in Afghanistan, stating that over 94,000 people had been displaced due to cross-border violence attributed to Pakistan.
India also raised concerns about cross-border terrorism and stressed that states supporting terrorism must be held accountable.
Referring to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Parvathaneni accused Pakistan of carrying out systematic atrocities during Operation Searchlight.
“During Operation Searchlight in 1971, Pakistan sanctioned the systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women citizens by its own army,” he said.
In his concluding remarks, the Indian envoy stressed that protecting civilians must remain central to the UN Security Council’s efforts to maintain international peace and security. He also called for stronger accountability, humanitarian access, protection of medical facilities, and adherence to international humanitarian law.
