**‘Sanctioned 400,000 Rapes’: India Slams Pakistan’s Kashmir Rant at UN**
*By Chanshimla Varah | October 7, 2025, 10:43 AM*
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India has sharply condemned Pakistan for its “delusional tirades” on Jammu and Kashmir during a recent United Nations Security Council debate focused on women and security.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, reminded the international community of Pakistan’s troubling history of human rights abuses, highlighting the alleged genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women during Operation Searchlight in 1971. This infamous military campaign was carried out by Pakistan’s regime in then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to suppress Bengali nationalism.
### Diplomatic Discourse: Responding to Pakistan’s Kashmir Claims
Harish’s remarks came as a direct rebuttal to Pakistan’s representative Saima Saleem, who raised concerns about Kashmir in the debate. He said,
*”This is a country that conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971 and sanctioned a systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women citizens by its own army. The world sees through Pakistan’s propaganda.”*
The Indian envoy also referenced a recent tragic incident in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where over 30 people lost their lives in an airstrike carried out by the Pakistani air force.
### Historical Atrocities: Understanding Operation Searchlight
Operation Searchlight, executed in March 1971, was a brutal and violent crackdown on the Bengali population by the Pakistani military. The operation was characterized by mass killings and widespread sexual violence on a massive scale. Historians estimate that the death toll ranged between 300,000 to three million people during this period.
Harish’s statements at the UN aimed to expose Pakistan’s tactics of using “hyperbole and misdirection” to divert global attention from its own grim past.
### Global Responsibility: India’s Commitment to Women’s Rights
The UN debate also marked the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. Harish emphasized India’s unwavering commitment to protecting women’s rights during conflicts and promoting their participation in peace processes.
He asserted, *“Our record is unblemished,”* positioning India as a responsible global actor dedicated to advancing women’s security and empowerment. This stance contrasts sharply with Pakistan’s ongoing use of the Kashmir issue as a means to deflect scrutiny from its internal repression and alleged sponsorship of terrorism.
### Recent Statements: Jaishankar’s Strong Words on Terrorism
Earlier, at the UN General Assembly, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar condemned countries that “openly declare terrorism as state policy.” Though not naming Pakistan explicitly, he stated,
*”For decades now, major international terrorist attacks are traced back to that one country.”*
He added, *“The most recent example of cross-border barbarism was the murder of 26 innocent tourists in Pahalgam in April this year.”*
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India’s diplomatic stance at the UN underscores its determination to confront terrorism and human rights abuses while advocating for genuine peace and security in the region.
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