India Refutes Pakistan PM’s Claims at UN, Vows Zero Tolerance for Terrorism

United Nations, Sept 2025 : India sharply rebuked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent statements at the UN General Assembly, ridiculing his claims of victory against India and warning Islamabad that it will not succumb to nuclear intimidation while continuing to hold terrorists and their sponsors accountable.

Speaking in New York during the General Assembly’s right of reply, Petal Gahlot, First Secretary at India’s UN Mission, lampooned Sharif’s declaration of triumph, pointing to the devastated Pakistani air force bases as evidence of the opposite. “If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it,” Gahlot said, dismissing his remarks as “absurd theatrics.”

She underlined that India’s position on terrorism remains uncompromising. “Where terrorism is concerned, there will be no distinction between the terrorists and their sponsors. Both will be held accountable,” Gahlot said. Emphasizing India’s stance against coercion, she added, “Nor will we allow terrorism to be practised under the cover of nuclear blackmail. India will never bow to such threats.”

Gahlot accused Pakistan of making terrorism a central pillar of its foreign policy, claiming that recent events continue to demonstrate Islamabad’s sponsorship and protection of terrorists. “No degree of drama or level of lies can conceal the facts. Pakistan has again glorified terrorism that is so central to its foreign policy,” she said. She specifically cited the April 25 Security Council incident in which Pakistan allegedly shielded the terrorist organization The Resistance Front (TRF) from accountability for the massacre of 26 Hindu and Christian tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Turning to the May conflict escalation, Gahlot rejected Sharif’s narrative of events, stating that the sequence of actions clearly exposes Pakistan’s role. “Till 9 May, Pakistan was threatening further attacks on India. On 10 May, its military requested a cessation of hostilities,” she said. “The intervening event was the destruction of multiple Pakistani airbases by Indian forces, images of which are publicly accessible.” She added that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations, Major General Kashif Abdullah, personally called his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, seeking a ceasefire.

Defending India’s military response, Operation Sindoor, Gahlot stated, “The truth is that Pakistan is responsible for terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in India. We exercised the right to defend our people and have brought the organizers and perpetrators to justice.” She accused Pakistan of attempting to divert attention from its terrorist networks. “A country long steeped in deploying and exporting terrorism has no shame in advancing the most ludicrous narratives to that end,” she said. She cited images of terrorists killed at Bahawalpur and Muridke terror complexes during Operation Sindoor as evidence.

Gahlot also condemned the glorification of terrorists by senior Pakistani officials. “When senior military and civilian officials publicly honor notorious terrorists, can there be any doubt about the proclivities of this regime? Its ministers have recently acknowledged operating terrorist camps for decades,” she said, referring to Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif’s April interview with Britain’s Sky News.

She further countered Sharif’s assertion that the US facilitated the ceasefire, reiterating India’s policy of resolving disputes bilaterally. “India and Pakistan have long agreed that any outstanding issue will be addressed bilaterally. There is no room for any third party in that regard. This is our longstanding national position,” Gahlot stressed.

Concluding her right of reply, Gahlot emphasized India’s unwavering message to the international community: “There must be zero tolerance for terrorism. India will continue to act decisively against all terrorists and those who sponsor them, and we will never yield to threats or intimidation.”