India Rebukes Pakistan at the United Nations: A Sharp Contrast in Governance, Economy, and Global Responsibility
- MGMMTeam
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
India's recent address at the United Nations Security Council marked a significant moment in its diplomatic engagement with Pakistan. In a high-level debate on “Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes,” India’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, delivered a pointed and forceful response to Pakistan’s recurring attempts to raise bilateral issues on global platforms. His remarks did not just defend India’s position but also laid bare the vast differences between the two neighbours—one emerging as a democratic powerhouse, the other floundering in extremism and economic dependency.
India’s Global Rise: A Story of Democracy and Development
Ambassador Harish began his address by affirming India’s role as a rising global power grounded in democratic values. He described India as a pluralistic, inclusive society, driven by institutional maturity and transparent governance. The country’s economic progress, built on the back of digital infrastructure, a thriving startup ecosystem, and structural reforms, has allowed it to become one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world.
India’s growing clout is also reflected in its contributions to global peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and climate initiatives. Rather than merely touting its success, Harish used India’s example to underline how a functioning democracy, focused on equitable growth and rule of law, can ensure lasting peace and security within and beyond its borders.
Pakistan’s Economic Collapse and Dependence on Foreign Aid
While India projected confidence on the world stage, Harish painted a starkly different picture of Pakistan. Describing the neighbouring country as a “serial borrower from the IMF,” he criticized its repeated reliance on international bailouts to stay afloat. This economic fragility is no longer an occasional challenge but a structural crisis. According to reports, Pakistan borrowed a record $26.7 billion in the last fiscal year alone—highlighting its deepening dependency on external financial aid.
This debt spiral, Harish pointed out, reflects a governance failure. A state unable to provide for its people without foreign assistance cannot claim to uphold sovereignty or economic dignity. The financial instability also exacerbates regional insecurity, as fragile economies tend to foster internal unrest and external aggression, often to deflect attention from domestic failures.
State-Sponsored Terrorism and the Cost of Silence
One of the most damning parts of India’s address was its direct accusation of Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism. Harish referred to the horrific April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians, including women and children, lost their lives. He emphasized that Pakistan’s support for terror groups operating from its soil is not merely a bilateral issue but a global concern that endangers international peace.
In response to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, a calculated military strike targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Harish defended the operation as a measured and necessary response to repeated provocations, asserting India’s right to protect its citizens while adhering to international norms. He further called on the international community to take firm action against states that sponsor terrorism, reminding the UN of its responsibility to hold such actors accountable.
Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty, and Pakistan’s Repetitive Rhetoric
The ambassador also dismissed Pakistan’s routine attempts to internationalize the Kashmir issue and raise concerns about the Indus Waters Treaty. Calling these actions both “hypocritical” and “predictable,” Harish said that it was ironic for a country funding terror to talk about peace and justice on global stages. He reiterated India’s firm position that such matters must be resolved bilaterally and cannot be manipulated as propaganda tools in multilateral forums.
India has long maintained that the United Nations should not be used to amplify manufactured narratives that distract from more pressing global concerns. Harish urged the UN to ensure its platform is not misused by states attempting to mask their internal failures by projecting victimhood on the international stage.
Global Responsibility and the UN’s Credibility at Stake
Harish’s address also served as a call to action for the United Nations itself. He questioned the credibility of global institutions that allow nations like Pakistan to gain positions of influence in panels such as the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee. Referring to Pakistan’s recent appointment as vice-chair of that committee, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had earlier remarked that it was akin to “appointing the cat to guard the milk.”
This irony, India believes, damages the legitimacy of the very institutions designed to preserve global peace and security. The ambassador called for reforms that would prevent rogue states from hijacking international narratives and instead empower responsible actors genuinely committed to multilateral cooperation.
Conclusion: A Diplomatic Showdown Rooted in Principles
India’s strong rebuttal at the United Nations was more than just a response to Pakistan’s provocations. It was a strategic reaffirmation of India’s global identity as a peaceful, democratic, and responsible power. While acknowledging its own challenges, India projected a vision of progress rooted in constitutional values, economic stability, and multilateral engagement.
Pakistan, on the other hand, was shown to be caught in a spiral of extremism, economic dependency, and diplomatic inconsistency. India’s message was clear: the international community must not allow nations that nurture terror and chaos to wear the garb of victimhood. Accountability, integrity, and transparency must define the future of global diplomacy—and India intends to lead that future.
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