'Serial practitioner of terrorism must face consequences': Jaishankar’s blunt message to Pakistan at UNGA
The minister said that friendship and goodwill cannot co-exist with the scourge
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the UN General Assembly, strongly defended India's national security and criticized Pakistan for misrepresenting facts and attempting to normalize terrorism. He asserted that India's right to self-defense against terrorism would be exercised and called for global accountability for state-sponsored terrorism, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the UN General Assembly, strongly defended India's national security and criticized Pakistan for misrepresenting facts and attempting to normalize terrorism. He asserted that India's right to self-defense against terrorism would be exercised and called for global accountability for state-sponsored terrorism, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the UN General Assembly, strongly defended India's national security and criticized Pakistan for misrepresenting facts and attempting to normalize terrorism. He asserted that India's right to self-defense against terrorism would be exercised and called for global accountability for state-sponsored terrorism, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s unwavering resolve to safeguard its national security and criticised Pakistan for misrepresentation of facts before the United Nations General Assembly.
Delivering India’s national statement during the General Debate of the high-level 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Jaishankar said that friendship and goodwill cannot co-exist with the scourge.
“Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented facts before this Assembly. Arguments were invoked to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences. That will not stand,” Jaishankar said.
His remarks were in response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address to the UNGA, in which Sharif credited US President Donald Trump with “timely intervention” during the 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan. Sharif also raised the issues of Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty, which India has said will remain in abeyance until Pakistan ends its support for cross-border terrorism.
“Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised. Friendship and goodwill cannot co-exist with terrorism. And understandings premised on that will naturally be called into question. It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways,” Jaishankar said.
The External Affairs Minister also criticised countries that attempt to distort global realities and provide justification for safe havens to extremists. He called for the international community to dismantle state-backed networks linked to terrorism and ensure accountability without exception.
“That this could be state-sponsored, with cross-border purpose, makes it a direct affront to the global order. Governments indulging in such practices must be held accountable. There must be no dilution in our zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism. Its financial aspects, in particular, should be exposed and should be countered,” he said.
In his address, Jaishankar also called for restraint, de-escalation and stronger measures to protect civilians amid ongoing conflicts, warning that continued hostilities were undermining global security as well as economic and developmental progress.