At the United Nations, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey has directly addressed Pakistan’s violations of children’s rights amidst armed conflict. Speaking during a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session focused on the protection of child rights, Dubey highlighted Pakistan’s alleged involvement in severe transgressions, referencing its performance in ‘Operation Sindoor’. He also acknowledged India’s commitment to child welfare, citing initiatives like the Child Helpline 1098 and the Ujjwala Yojana, which aim to protect children from trafficking and exploitation.
Dubey characterized Pakistan as a significant violator of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) agenda, condemning its attempts to shift focus from its internal issues. He specifically cited a UN report detailing Pakistan’s role in attacks on schools, particularly girls’ schools, and its responsibility for the deaths and injuries of Afghan children due to cross-border shelling and airstrikes.
Recalling the ‘Operation Sindoor’ incident, Dubey termed India’s response a ‘measured response’ to a terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. He asserted that India acted within its rights to defend its citizens against terrorism, contrasting it with Pakistan’s alleged deliberate targeting of civilian areas, including those inhabited by children.
Dubey concluded by urging Pakistan to introspect and cease its outward criticism, emphasizing the need for Pakistan to prioritize the protection of children within its own borders and to stop targeting them across borders.
Following the session, Dubey shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he had fulfilled his responsibility, as assigned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to hold Pakistan accountable at the UN for its failures in ‘Operation Sindoor’ and its overall situation.
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