'Dressing up a massacre': India accuses Pakistan of ‘trade and transit terrorism’ against Afghanistan at UNSC

India on Monday launched a strong diplomatic offensive against Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), accusing Islamabad of using Afghanistan’s geographic dependence as a political tool and undermining the war-torn country’s economic recovery.

Speaking during a UNSC briefing on Afghanistan, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, alleged that Pakistan’s restrictions on trade and transit routes were hurting the Afghan people and violating international commitments designed to protect landlocked nations.

Weaponising Afghanistan’s geography

The sharp exchange came as the Security Council discussed Afghanistan’s fragile economic and political situation. India argued that Pakistan’s repeated restrictions on key transit routes were limiting Afghanistan’s ability to access regional markets and rebuild its economy.

"Imposing unilateral trade and transit restrictions on Afghanistan, and blocking the natural trade routes of a landlocked country, directly contradicts UN principles and solemn international declarations, said Parvathaneni. "This is nothing short of trade and transit terrorism that suffocates the economic lifelines of the Afghan people," he went on.

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India maintained that international agreements guarantee landlocked developing countries access to global trade routes through neighbouring states. According to New Delhi, repeated disruptions at major border crossings have undermined those commitments and placed additional pressure on Afghanistan’s struggling economy.

Criticism of Pakistan’s security actions

The Indian envoy also turned his attention to Pakistan’s military actions inside Afghan territory, describing them as inconsistent with Islamabad’s stated commitment to international law.

Referring to information cited from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Harish said military operations and airstrikes had resulted in civilian casualties and large-scale displacement.

"Dressing up a massacre as a military operation does not absolve the perpetrator," Harish remarked, slamming Pakistan's "perfect example of hypocrisy" for invoking international law while targeting innocent civilians across its borders.

India rejects ‘Fitna al Hindustan’ narrative

Another major point of contention was Pakistan’s decision to describe certain militant groups as “Fitna al Hindustan,” alleging Indian involvement in their activities.

India firmly rejected the claim, with Harish accusing Islamabad of attempting to shift attention away from its own internal challenges.

"Pakistan coming up with official notifications directing its agencies to use this label is nothing but officially sponsored misinformation and disinformation dressed in religious terminology. An organized factory of hate cannot hide the truth. Blaming neighbors for its own failures is an old Pakistani habit, and this attempt to hoodwink the world will fail."

Beyond criticism of Pakistan, India urged the UN to reassess its broader approach to Afghanistan. Harish argued that the political landscape in the country has changed significantly over the past five years and that existing sanctions should be reviewed to ensure they benefit ordinary Afghans.

India reiterated that humanitarian assistance, regional connectivity and uninterrupted trade remain essential for Afghanistan’s long-term stability and economic recovery.