Daijiworld Media Network – United Nations

United Nations, May 24: India has strongly asserted at the United Nations that terrorists based in Pakistan cannot claim civilian protection to avoid anti-terror action.

“Let us be clear: protection of civilians should not serve as an argument for protection of UN-designated terrorists,” said India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, ambassador P Harish, during a Security Council debate on emerging threats to civilians.

He accused Pakistan of repeatedly using civilians as a shield for terrorism. Referring to Operation Sindoor, Harish rejected Islamabad's claims that civilians were targeted, pointing instead to the deep nexus between terrorists and Pakistan’s military establishment.

“A nation that makes no distinction between terrorists and civilians has no credentials to speak about protecting civilians,” he said, adding that senior Pakistani military and police officials had attended funerals of terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Toiba leader Hafiz Abdur Rauf.

Harish condemned Pakistan’s retaliation after the strikes, saying it had deliberately shelled Indian border areas, killing over 20 civilians and targeting religious places and medical facilities.

“To preach at this body after such behaviour is grossly hypocritical,” he said.

India stressed that attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers violate international law and urged the global community to implement UN resolutions to protect civilians.

Ambassador Harish also underlined the importance of respecting the UN Charter, especially the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, in all actions taken by the Council.