Who Is Petal Gahlot? India Diplomat Who Hit Back at Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif at UNGA

Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot has emerged as New Delhi’s prominent voice in its latest exchange with Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly, delivering a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks on Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty and India-Pakistan relations. Gahlot, a First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, warned that continued cross-border terrorism from Pakistan “will have consequences”.

The appearance marked the second consecutive year in which Gahlot has responded to Sharif from the UNGA platform. In 2025, she dismissed his remarks as “absurd theatrics” and accused Pakistan of “glorifying terrorism”. Her latest intervention again focused on Pakistan’s record on terrorism, its claims over Jammu and Kashmir and allegations concerning human rights and democracy. EAM S Jaishankar Responds to Pakistani Reporter’s Terrorism Question at UNGA Briefing (Video).

Petal Gahlot Hits Back at Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif

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Watch: First Secretary @petal_gahlot exercises 🇮🇳’s Right of Reply at #UNGA81. @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @UN @PMOIndia @DDNewslive @airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/MEW1n7WIJW

— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) September 26, 2026

Who Is Petal Gahlot?

Petal Gahlot is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer currently serving as First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. Born in New Delhi, Gahlot joined the IFS in 2015. Her diplomatic career has included assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian missions overseas and India’s permanent mission to the UN.

Before moving to New York, she served as Under Secretary in the MEA’s Europe West Division between 2020 and 2023. Gahlot joined India’s Permanent Mission to the UN as First Secretary in July 2023. Her responsibilities have since included representing India on a range of issues at the world body. ‘When Will You Stop Harbouring Terrorists?’: Shehbaz Sharif Dodges Question Over Pakistan’s Terror Links at UN.

Gahlot holds a BA in Political Science, Sociology and French Literature from St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and a Master’s in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College for Women in Delhi.

Alongside her diplomatic career, Gahlot has also shown an interest in music. She is a guitarist and has posted covers of popular songs on social media. Her rendition of the Italian song Bella Ciao was among the performances that attracted attention online.

What Petal Gahlot Told Pakistan At UNGA

Gahlot’s latest Right of Reply followed Sharif’s address to the UN General Assembly, during which the Pakistan prime minister raised the Kashmir issue and the Indus Waters Treaty. Sharif said any attempt to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of waters would be treated as an “act of war”.

Gahlot responded by focusing on Pakistan’s record on terrorism and its relationship with militant groups. She invoked Osama bin Laden and pointed out that the mastermind of the September 11 attacks had lived near Pakistan’s premier military academy. “Today, the representative of Pakistan went out of his way to praise that very military," she said.

Gahlot also questioned Pakistan’s claims concerning democracy and human rights, referring to its 27th Constitutional Amendment and the lifetime legal immunity granted to what she described as the country’s “actual ruler”. She accused Pakistan of speaking about security during the day while carrying out terrorism at night. “The world knows how minorities are treated in Pakistan," Gahlot said, adding that “sweet and deceptive words" could not mislead the international community.

Kashmir And Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir

Sharif’s references to Jammu and Kashmir also drew a direct response from Gahlot. “Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inseparable part of India and will always remain so," Gahlot said.

She then turned her remarks towards Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), referring to recent protests there. “Ask the people of Rawalakot about the killings, violence and denial of basic rights they have endured for years." Gahlot said the central issue remained Pakistan’s “longstanding policy of cross-border terrorism” and asserted India’s right to defend itself.

“We demonstrated last year that there would be neither a safe haven nor a place to hide for terrorists," she said. “If terrorism continues from Pakistan’s side, there will be consequences." Rejecting Pakistan’s claims at the UN, Gahlot added: “Repeating a lie every year does not make it the truth." She concluded that Pakistan’s “terrorism, deception and double standards” serve neither Pakistan nor the wider world.

Gahlot’s 2025 Response To Sharif

Gahlot had delivered a similarly forceful Right of Reply after Sharif’s UNGA address in September 2025. At the time, Sharif had spoken about Operation Sindoor and described Pakistan as having faced “unprovoked aggression” from India. He also credited US President Donald Trump with averting a full-scale war between the two countries.

Gahlot opened India’s response by describing Sharif’s speech as “absurd theatrics” and accusing him of once again “glorifying terrorism”. “No degree of drama and no level of lies can conceal the facts," she said. She pointed to Pakistan’s actions at the UN Security Council following the Pahalgam terror attack and accused Islamabad of shielding The Resistance Front (TRF) from responsibility for the massacre.

Gahlot also referred to Pakistan’s history of sheltering Osama bin Laden and accused the country of having a long history of “deploying and exporting terrorism”.

Operation Sindoor And Bilateral Talks

Sharif’s claims about the 2025 India-Pakistan hostilities also came under scrutiny in Gahlot’s 2025 response. She said Pakistan’s military had eventually “pleaded” for a cessation of fighting after Indian strikes damaged its airbases during Operation Sindoor.

Gahlot also rejected any role for a third country in resolving issues between India and Pakistan, reiterating New Delhi’s position that outstanding matters between the two neighbours must be addressed bilaterally. When Sharif spoke about wanting peace with India, Gahlot responded directly.

“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," she said.

A Familiar Role At The UN

Gahlot’s appearances in the India-Pakistan exchanges at the UN reflect the role of India’s diplomatic mission in responding to statements made by Pakistan on issues including terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir and bilateral relations.

Her latest intervention continued themes that have featured prominently in New Delhi’s responses to Islamabad at international forums, while Sharif’s remarks again placed Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty at the centre of Pakistan’s UNGA address.

For Gahlot, the latest exchange also marked another appearance in a diplomatic role that has increasingly put her at the forefront of India’s public responses to Pakistan at the United Nations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 26, 2026 09:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).