India strongly condemns Pakistan Prime Minister's speech as 'absurd theatrics' after being confronted on cross-border terrorism.
United Nations, New York: A fresh diplomatic clash erupted at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this weekend, focusing sharply on the issue of cross-border terrorism between India and Pakistan.
The controversy began when Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was directly asked by a news agency about stopping cross-border terrorism as he arrived at the UN headquarters. In a brief response, Mr. Sharif stated, "We are defeating cross-border terrorism. We are defeating them," before moving on to attend the UN General Assembly session.
The diplomatic heat intensified after Prime Minister Sharif's address to the assembly. During India's main address, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, without naming the country directly, accused Pakistan of being an "epicentre of global terrorism" for decades. He stated that the UN's designated terror lists are "replete with its nationals" and warned that nations that condone terror sponsors "will find that it comes back to bite them."
This sharp exchange comes after a period of high tensions earlier this year. The backdrop includes the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. In response, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure. While hostilities have since ceased following military-level contacts, the diplomatic fallout remains significant.
The Indian delegation stressed the importance of a factual and objective assessment of all incidents, pointing out Pakistan's alleged support for terror financing and militant safe havens. They made it clear that "no degree of drama can conceal facts," criticizing Pakistan for using the UN platform for baseless allegations.