Desk : India has reaffirmed that the protection of civilians during armed conflicts remains a central element in maintaining international peace and security. Speaking at the Annual United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Open Debate on “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, called for “zero tolerance” towards the loss of civilian lives.
Parvathaneni congratulated China on assuming the presidency of the UNSC for the month and welcomed the convening of the annual debate. He also thanked the UN Secretary-General for his report and appreciated the remarks made by the briefers during the session.
Highlighting the global humanitarian situation, he noted that more than 37,000 civilian deaths were recorded across 20 armed conflicts in 2025. Although this marked the first decline after three consecutive years of increase, he stressed that the figures remained alarmingly high. He said continued civilian casualties, displacement, destruction of critical infrastructure, and attacks on hospitals, schools, medical personnel, and humanitarian workers were deeply concerning.
India reiterated that all parties involved in armed conflicts must ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access while respecting international humanitarian law. Referring to UNSC Resolution 2286, Parvathaneni said repeated attacks on civilian facilities and humanitarian workers, even a decade after the resolution’s adoption, reflected a serious erosion of respect for humanitarian principles.
He also expressed concern over the increasing use of drones to deploy explosive weapons in urban areas. According to Parvathaneni, the use of missiles, bombs, and other explosive weapons in densely populated regions continues to cause significant harm to civilians. He added that emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, must be used in conformity with international law and humanitarian principles, with safeguards in place to prevent misuse and unintended civilian harm.
India also strongly condemned cross-border terrorism during the debate. Parvathaneni said India has suffered from cross-border terrorism for decades and emphasized that states sponsoring, sheltering, or supporting terrorism must be held accountable. He stated that terrorism in all its forms remains one of the gravest threats to civilians worldwide and asserted that no cause or grievance can justify deliberate attacks against innocent civilians.