India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), accusing it of a history of violence against civilians and citing recent incidents in Afghanistan allegedly linked to Pakistani military action.
Speaking during the Annual UNSC Open Debate on the “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict”, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni accused Pakistan of hypocrisy for raising issues related to India while itself facing allegations of civilian harm.
India Cites UNAMA Findings on Afghanistan
Referring to reports by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Parvathaneni said hundreds of civilians in Afghanistan had reportedly been affected by cross-border violence involving Pakistani forces.
“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.
According to the Indian envoy, UNAMA documented 750 civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan during the first three months of 2026 due to cross-border armed violence allegedly carried out by Pakistani military forces, most of them linked to airstrikes.
Allegations Over Kabul Hospital Airstrike
India also accused Pakistan of carrying out an airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul during the holy month of Ramadan.
Parvathaneni stated that UNAMA had attributed 94 out of 95 civilian casualty incidents to Pakistani security forces.
He alleged that the strike on the hospital killed 269 civilians and injured another 122 people.
“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,” he said.
According to India, the attack took place after tarawih prayers when patients were leaving the mosque attached to the facility.
India Accuses Pakistan of Ignoring Humanitarian Obligations
The Indian representative accused Pakistan of failing to uphold international humanitarian law and ignoring appeals made by the UN Secretary-General regarding civilian protection.
“It is hypocritical to espouse high principles of international law while targeting innocent civilians in the dark,” Parvathaneni said.
He further claimed that more than 94,000 people had been displaced due to cross-border violence allegedly linked to Pakistani military actions.
Reference to 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
India also invoked historical allegations against Pakistan dating back to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Parvathaneni referred to “Operation Searchlight”, accusing Pakistan’s military of carrying out widespread atrocities, including mass violence against civilians and women.
“Such inhuman conduct reflects Pakistan’s repeated attempts over decades to externalize internal failures through increasingly desperate acts of violence both within and beyond its borders,” he said.
India Calls for Stronger Protection of Civilians
In his concluding remarks, the Indian envoy stressed that civilian protection must remain central to the Security Council’s efforts to maintain global peace and security.
India called on the international community to strengthen accountability, uphold international humanitarian law, ensure humanitarian access, protect medical infrastructure and responsibly regulate emerging technologies in conflict situations.
