India strongly criticized Pakistan at the United Nations for its poor record on women’s rights, highlighting the mass rape of 400,000 women during Operation Searchlight in 1971. During a heated debate on women and security at the UN Security Council, India’s permanent representative, Parvathaneni Harish, accused Pakistan of persisting in its false claims, especially regarding Jammu and Kashmir.
Harish emphasized India’s impeccable track record on women, peace, and security issues, contrasting it with Pakistan’s history of bombing its own people and carrying out genocidal acts. The reference to Pakistan’s air force killing over 30 civilians, including children, in an airstrike last month was made to underscore Harish’s point.
The Indian representative also brought up Operation Searchlight, a brutal crackdown by the Pakistani army on Bengalis in East Pakistan in 1971, where hundreds of thousands of women suffered detention and abuse. General Tikka Khan, known as the ‘Butcher of Bengal,’ oversaw this operation, which ultimately led to the formation of Bangladesh after Pakistan’s defeat in the 1971 Liberation War.
Harish highlighted these historical atrocities to expose Pakistan’s propaganda, stating that the international community sees through their deceit. In response to Pakistan’s claims of sexual violence against women in Kashmir, Harish pointed out the lack of evidence to support these allegations.
India’s forceful rebuttal at the UN reflects the ongoing tensions between the two countries over human rights violations and territorial disputes.