'Serial practitioner of terrorism': S Jaishankar tears into Pakistan at UNGA
PTC News Desk: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations on Saturday, accusing it of repeatedly supporting terrorism. He said attempts to treat terrorism as normal or protect those responsible from facing consequences would not be accepted.
His remarks came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised his country's military response to India and claimed victory during the 2025 Operation Sindoor.
“Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented facts before this Assembly,” Jaishankar said, without naming Pakistan, and in an apparent reference to Sharif’s remarks. He made the remarks while addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In his UN speech on Friday, Sharif praised the Pakistani military for responding to India's strikes. He said Pakistani forces had responded with “precision and professionalism” and described their actions as a successful military response.
Responding to such claims, Jaishankar said there were efforts to normalise terrorism and protect those behind it from accountability. He stressed that India has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.
Without directly naming Pakistan, Jaishankar said India would continue to follow a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. He also said governments that support or facilitate terrorism must be held responsible.
Jaishankar further called for terrorist funding networks to be identified and dismantled. He said the financial networks that support terrorism must also be targeted.
His comments came amid continued tensions between India and Pakistan over cross-border terrorism. India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of supporting terrorist groups and has described its response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam Terror Attack as an exercise of its right to self-defence.
The Pahalgam attack killed 26 civilians, most of them tourists. India later launched Operation Sindoor, targeting what the government described as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
- PTC NEWS
