New York [US], Oct 26 : India sharply criticized Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issue during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate, calling it a “mischievous provocation” and accusing Islamabad of relying on its “tested tactic of spreading misinformation.” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, dismissed Pakistan’s remarks as “political propaganda” during the UNSC debate focused on “Women Building Peace in a Changing Environment.”
“It is despicable, yet entirely predictable, that one delegation has indulged in this provocation based on their pride and strategy of disinformation,” Harish stated, emphasizing the plight of minority women in Pakistan. He referenced data indicating that nearly 1,000 women from minority communities face abduction, forced conversion, and marriages each year.
India’s envoy expressed gratitude to Switzerland for hosting the debate and reiterated India’s commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. He also highlighted India’s role in peacekeeping, noting the deployment of the first all-female police unit in Liberia in 2007, and acknowledged Indian women peacekeepers’ recognition in the UN, including Major Radhika Sen and Major Suman Gawani.
Highlighting domestic strides, Harish spoke on the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in 2023, reserving one-third of seats in national and state legislatures for women. He cited the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in Gujarat as an example of empowering women in the informal sector.
Looking forward, Harish stressed the need for new technologies to enhance women’s participation while tackling online threats. He reaffirmed India’s dedication to increasing female representation in peacekeeping and fostering inclusive, gender-equal initiatives globally.
