India felt strongly enough to rebuke Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issue during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate, terming it "despicable" and a "mischievous provocation" based on an old trick by Pakistan of spreading misinformation. It also presented the mirror to Pakistan on the despicable condition of minority women in the country.
In the UNSC debate on "Women Building Peace in a Changing Environment," a strong Right of Reply against Pakistan was given by Parvathaneni Harish, Permanent Representative of India to the UN. He termed Pakistan's attempt to bring up Jammu and Kashmir at the forum as "political propaganda" at an inappropriate setting.
"It is despicable yet entirely predictable that one delegation has indulged in mischievous provocation based on their tried and tested tactic of spreading misinformation and disinformation. It's completely misplaced to indulge in such political propaganda at this important annual debate," Harish observed. The exchange followed Pakistan's remarks referring to J&K, which Harish dismissed while shifting focus onto the conditions of minority women in Pakistan. We are well informed of the fact that conditions for women from minority communities--specifically Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians--are regrettable," he said.
Referring to statistics from Pakistan's Human Rights Commission, he added, "Approximately one thousand women belonging to these minority communities are abducted, forced religiously converted, and married coercively. I could continue but stop here," he said, pointing out the indecent inertia of Pakistan. India also thanked Switzerland for hosting the debate and reiterated the country's commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.
He said, "In the run-up to the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325 of the Council, India reaffirms her irrevocable commitment to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. India acknowledges that sustainable peace is absolutely impossible and indeed inconceivable without women's full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation at all levels of decision-making - whether it is in politics, governance, institution-building, rule of law, the security sector, or economic recovery," Harish said.
Sharply underlining India's historical role in empowering women in peacekeeping missions, Harish remembered the country had first deployed an all-female formed police unit to Liberia in 2007 and that India has "made significant strides in implementing the WPS agenda." As a fifth biggest troop contributor, India deployed the first-ever all female-formed police unit in Liberia in 2007, setting a precedent for United Nations peace-keeping. Their work was able to garner tremendous appreciation within Liberia and in the UN.
He added that more than 100 Indian women peacekeepers today serve worldwide-including three all-women Female Engagement Teams. He further welcomed Major Radhika Sen who was UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year and served in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023. He also referred to legislative efforts of India to accord political empowerment for women by citing the successful passage of Women's Reservation Bill by the Parliament of India in 2023 with the view to enhance participation of women in decision-making.
Laying out India's commitment on inclusion of the better representation of women in peacekeeping, sharing good practices, and support towards the capacity-building for the women peacebuilders, Harish went on to declare that India is committed to taking the WPS agenda from theory to practice and pledged India's readiness to cooperate with all stakeholders for a more peaceful, inclusive, and gender-equal world.
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