India Condemns Pakistan’s Reaction to Jaishankar’s UN Remarks on Terrorism
UNITED NATIONS: India has strongly criticized Pakistan for responding to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s remarks on terrorism at the UN General Assembly, even though the country was not explicitly named. India described Islamabad’s reaction as an implicit acknowledgment of its “longstanding practice of cross-border terrorism.”
During his address at the UNGA General Debate on Saturday, Jaishankar, without naming Pakistan, stated, “Major international terrorist attacks are traced back to that one country,” referring to a “neighbour that is an epicentre of global terrorism” and highlighting India’s long-standing fight against terrorism since independence.
Later, in its Right of Reply, Pakistan accused India of attempting to “malign Pakistan” with “malicious accusations,” claiming that India’s statements were a “deliberate attempt to repeat lies,” despite Jaishankar not explicitly naming any country.
Responding to Pakistan, India said it was “telling that a neighbour who was not named chose to respond, thereby admitting to their longstanding practice of cross-border terrorism.”
“Pakistan’s reputation speaks for itself. Its fingerprints are visible in terrorism across multiple regions. It is a menace not only to its neighbours but to the entire world,” said Rentala Srinivas, Second Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN.
“No arguments or falsehoods can ever whitewash the crimes of terroristan,” Srinivas added during India’s Right of Reply. When the Pakistani delegate attempted to respond again, Srinivas walked out of the hall.
In his address, Jaishankar urged the global community to unequivocally condemn nations that openly treat terrorism as state policy, operate terror hubs on an industrial scale, and publicly glorify terrorists. He stressed the need to “choke” terrorist financing and sanction prominent terrorists, warning that relentless pressure on the entire terrorism ecosystem is essential, and those condoning terror will ultimately face consequences.
Without naming Pakistan, Jaishankar highlighted that the UN’s designated lists of terrorists include many of its nationals. Citing the murder of innocent tourists in Pahalgam in April as an example of “cross-border barbarism,” he noted, “India exercised its right to defend its people against terrorism and brought its organisers and perpetrators to justice.”
