India Slams Pakistan In UN Over Religious Conversions, Forced Marriages: ‘Despicable Yet Predictable’

India on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Pakistan at a United Nations Security Council debate over the issue of Jammu-Kashmir after the later referred to it.

Pakistan was also criticised over religious conversions and forced marriages.

Addressing the UN Security Council debate, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Parvathaneni Harish, said, “It is despicable, yet entirely predictable, that one delegation has chosen to indulge in mischievous provocation based on their pride and tested tactic of spreading misinformation and disinformation. It’s completely misplaced to indulge in such political propaganda at this important annual debate. We are well aware that the condition of women belonging to minority communities, notably Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians in that country remains deplorable.”

His remarks came after Pakistan’s representative in his remarks during the UNSC debate made references to Jammu and Kashmir.

“An estimated thousand women of these minority communities, as per data of the Human Rights Commission of that particular country, are subject to abduction, forced religious conversions, and forced marriages every year. Anyway, I could go on, but I end here,” he added.

Harish further spoke about the steps taken by India for empowering women and expressed gratitude to Switzerland for organising the important discussion on women’s role in peacebuilding in a changing environment.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of Council Resolution 1325, India reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. We recognize that sustainable peace requires women’s full equal, meaningful and safe participation at all levels of decision-making, including politics, governance, institution building, rule of law, the security sector and economic recovery. Needless to say, the economic and social well-being of the population in general, and women in particular, are integral to sustainable peace,” Harish said.

He also recalled India’s deployment of the first-ever all-female formed police unit to Liberia in 2007,stating that India has increased women’s participation in our peacekeeping contingents, with over 100 Indian women peacekeepers currently serving worldwide. 

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