India rebukes Pakistan PM's UN speech, calls remarks 'absurd theatrics'
text_fields
India strongly criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly, calling it “absurd theatrics” and accusing him of “once again glorifying terrorism.”
Exercising its right of reply, Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot said terrorism remains “central to their (Pakistan's) foreign policy.” She recalled that on April 25, 2025, Pakistan shielded The Resistance Front, a terror outfit backed by Pakistan, from being held accountable for the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. She added, “No degree of drama and no level of lies can conceal the facts.”
Gahlot further said Pakistan had “sheltered Osama bin Laden for a decade, even while pretending to be a partner in the war against terrorism,” and referred to the country as one “long steeped in the tradition of deploying and exporting terrorism.”
Rejecting Sharif’s claims of “unprovoked aggression” by India during Operation Sindoor earlier this year, Gahlot said that Pakistan’s military had directly pleaded with India on May 10 for a cessation of fighting and pointed out that photos of destroyed runways and hangars served as proof. She remarked that if destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars appeared to be a victory, as the Prime Minister had claimed, then Pakistan was welcome to see it that way.
India reiterated that it had acted to defend its citizens and would hold both terrorists and their sponsors accountable. Gahlot emphasised that terrorism could not be practised under the cover of nuclear blackmail and asserted that India would never bow to such threats. She added that India’s message to the world was clear: there must be zero tolerance for terrorism.
On Sharif’s call for dialogue with India, Gahlot said, “If he is indeed sincere, the pathway is clear. Pakistan must immediately shut down all terrorist camps and hand over to us the terrorists wanted in India.”
During his address, Sharif said Pakistan’s foreign policy was rooted in “peace, mutual respect and cooperation.” He expressed readiness for a “composite, comprehensive, and result-oriented dialogue with India on all outstanding issues” and called for “proactive rather than provocative leadership” in South Asia.
Sharif also accused India of violating the Indus Water Treaty, calling the move an “act of war” and vowed to defend “the inseparable right of our 240 million people on these waters.”
The Pakistan PM further credited U.S. President Donald Trump with facilitating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, saying, “President Trump’s efforts for peace helped avert a more threatening war in South Asia.” He claimed that without U.S. intervention, the consequences could have been “catastrophic.”
India dismissed the remarks, reiterating that any outstanding issues with Pakistan will be resolved bilaterally. “There is no room for any third party,” Gahlot said.