India tells UN that Pakistan's civilian governments serve at army's mercy

India has launched a sharp diplomatic attack on Pakistan at the United Nations, declaring that Islamabad’s "so-called civilian governments" operate entirely at the mercy of the country’s military.

Exercising India’s right of reply at a UN General Assembly committee meeting, Indian diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan said these administrations are fragile, highly dependent on military backing, and rarely manage to complete their terms in office.

The exchange on Friday was triggered after the Pakistani delegate raised the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir at the UN's Third Committee, which handles social, humanitarian, and cultural affairs. India rejected the remarks, reiterating that Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh remain integral and inalienable parts of its territory.

Rigged elections and political interference

In her address, Mangalanandan pointed directly to Pakistan's current political turmoil to support her claims. She highlighted the plight of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, noting that he remains in prison while his health is reported to be deteriorating. She also pointed out that his political party was effectively blocked from contesting the recent elections.

The Indian diplomat went further, referencing "Form 47"—a term widely used by opposition groups in Pakistan to describe the alleged rigging and manipulation of the February 2024 general elections.

"When any free media is banned from covering such news in Pakistan, the evidence becomes undeniable for the global community that only the writ of the Form 47 government and their masters and the Army headquarters runs large," Mangalanandan said.

Unrest in occupied territories

India also accused Pakistan of trying to deflect attention from mounting domestic crises, specifically mentioning the civil unrest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Mangalanandan described protests in Rawalakot and other cities in the occupied region as a "tragedy" driven by local residents demanding basic rights, including bread, electricity, and human dignity. She accused Pakistani authorities of executing a "brutal crackdown" and killing civilians to suppress these demonstrations.

According to India, this unrest is the predictable outcome of decades of forceful military occupation and systematic repression of local populations.

Stark contrast in Jammu and Kashmir

To counter Pakistan's claims, India pointed to the assembly elections held in Jammu and Kashmir in late 2024. Mangalanandan highlighted the high voter turnout and the peaceful transition of power to a newly elected local government as proof of a functioning democracy.

"The contrast could not have been starker," she said, adding that the only human rights violations occurring in Kashmir are those carried out by Pakistani forces and their "terrorist proxies" crossing the border.

India argued that Pakistan has spent more than three decades sponsoring and financing cross-border terrorism to destabilise its neighbour rather than addressing its own deep-seated economic and social problems.