Pakistan Hits Back at India Over UNSC Terrorism Claims

Pakistan has issued a sharp response to India at the United Nations Security Council, rejecting New Delhi’s allegations during a debate on the protection of civilians and accusing it of using the forum to deflect attention from its own conduct. The exchange took place at the UNSC as Pakistan’s representative Saima Saleem responded to remarks made by India’s envoy.

The latest diplomatic confrontation began after India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, accused Pakistan of failing to meet humanitarian obligations and alleged that civilians had been targeted. He also referred to claims linked to Afghanistan, including allegations surrounding an earlier hospital incident in Kabul.

Pakistan’s reply focused on what it described as India’s record of terrorism, occupation, minority persecution, aggression and violations of international law. Islamabad’s representative said New Delhi had attempted to present itself as a victim, while Pakistan argued that India’s regional conduct and domestic policies told a different story.

In her response, Saima Saleem said India’s alleged sponsorship of violence against Pakistan had real human consequences. She referred to militant groups including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Majeed Brigade, saying such networks had been used to target civilians in mosques, markets, schools and public spaces.

Pakistan also defended its counter-terrorism actions linked to threats emerging from Afghan territory. Saleem said the operations were aimed at militant hideouts, training sites, ammunition facilities and support networks, and insisted that they were not directed at Afghan civilians or civilian infrastructure.

The UNSC exchange comes against a broader backdrop of strained Pakistan-India relations, where disputes over Kashmir, terrorism allegations, water rights and regional security continue to shape diplomatic engagement. Pakistan had earlier raised the situation in occupied Kashmir at the international forum, framing it as a civilian protection and self-determination issue.

Saleem also criticised India’s treatment of minorities, saying that policies and rhetoric targeting Muslims and other communities had become a matter of international concern. She linked these concerns with India’s conduct in occupied Kashmir, where Pakistan says civilians face detention, displacement, restrictions and denial of political rights.

Another key part of Pakistan’s response was the Indus Waters Treaty. Saleem said India’s decision to hold the treaty in abeyance reflected disregard for international law and threatened the water, food security and livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis, making it a central civilian protection concern for Islamabad.

The confrontation is likely to keep Pakistan-India tensions in focus at international platforms, particularly as both countries continue to accuse each other over terrorism and regional destabilisation. Pakistan is expected to continue pressing its position through diplomatic channels, while future UNSC discussions may again become arenas for competing narratives over Kashmir, Afghanistan and cross-border security.