**Sanctioned 400,000 rapes: India slams Pakistan’s Kashmir rant at UN**
*By Chanshimla Varah | Oct 07, 2025, 10:43 am*
India has strongly 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, took the opportunity to remind the international community of Pakistan’s troubling history of human rights abuses. Notably, he referenced the alleged genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women during Operation Searchlight in 1971—a military campaign carried out by Pakistan’s regime in what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to suppress Bengali nationalism.
**Diplomatic Discourse**
Harish’s pointed response came directly after Pakistan’s representative, Saima Saleem, raised the issue of Kashmir. In a sharply worded retort, Harish 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.”*
He further highlighted a recent incident in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where over 30 people lost their lives in an airstrike conducted by the Pakistani air force, underscoring ongoing internal violence.
**Historical Atrocities: Operation Searchlight and Its Implications**
Operation Searchlight, launched in March 1971, was a brutal crackdown on the Bengali population by the Pakistani military. The operation was marked by widespread mass killings and rampant sexual violence. Historical estimates suggest that between 300,000 and 3 million people were killed during this campaign.
Harish’s statements at the UN aimed to expose Pakistan’s strategy of employing “hyperbole and misdirection” to distract the world from its own history of brutality.
**Global Responsibility: India’s Commitment to Women’s Rights**
The Security Council debate also commemorated 25 years of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. Emphasizing India’s commitment, Harish asserted the country’s dedication to protecting women’s rights during conflicts and promoting their participation in peace processes.
He stated, *“Our record is unblemished,”* positioning India as a responsible global actor advancing women’s security and empowerment. This contrasts sharply with Pakistan’s repeated use of the Kashmir issue to deflect attention from its internal repression and alleged support of terrorism.
**Recent Statements: Jaishankar’s Remarks on Terrorism at UNGA**
Earlier at the United Nations General Assembly, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, criticized countries that “openly declare terrorism as state policy.” Without naming Pakistan explicitly, he declared:
*”For decades now, major international terrorist attacks are traced back to that one country.”*
He cited a recent incident as an example of cross-border terrorism—the murder of 26 innocent tourists in Pahalgam in April of this year.
—
India’s firm stance at the UN underscores its determination to challenge misinformation surrounding Jammu and Kashmir while reiterating its broader commitment to peace, security, and the protection of women’s rights worldwide.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/sanctioned-mass-rape-of-400-000-india-blasts-pakistan-at-un/story