EAM S Jaishankar Hits Back at Pakistan at UNGA, Says ‘Terrorism Cannot Be Normalised’

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, accusing Islamabad of misrepresenting facts and attempting to justify terrorism. Jaishankar said India would continue to exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism.

S Jaishankar Responds to Shehbaz Sharif's UNGA Remarks

Sharif, in his UNGA address, referred to the four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025. He said Pakistan had exercised its “inherent right of self-defence” under Article 51 of the UN Charter and praised the country's armed forces for their response. EAM S Jaishankar Responds to Pakistani Reporter’s Terrorism Question at UNGA Briefing (Video).

EAM S Jaishankar's Remark at 81st Session at United Nations General Assembly

Sharif also credited US President Donald Trump with what he described as a timely intervention that helped prevent further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Responding to the remarks, Jaishankar said arguments aimed at normalising terrorism or seeking immunity from its consequences would not be accepted. “Friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism,” Jaishankar said, adding that the responsibility to change course rested with the perpetrator of terrorism. EAM Jaishankar Calls for Stronger Ties with Latin American, Caribbean States, Says Trade Crosses USD 50 Billion.

India Exercises Right of Reply

India separately exercised its Right of Reply following Sharif's address. First Secretary at India's Permanent Mission to the UN, Petal Gahlot, rejected Pakistan's comments on Jammu and Kashmir and criticised Islamabad's record on terrorism and minority rights.

Gahlot said India had demonstrated during last year's military confrontation that it would respond to terrorism and warned that continued cross-border terrorism would have consequences. India also rejected Pakistan's references to Kashmir, reiterating its position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

Background to the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict

The latest exchange at the UNGA comes against the backdrop of the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting what it described as terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The military escalation ended with a ceasefire that took effect on May 10.

New Delhi has maintained that the ceasefire was reached through direct communication between India and Pakistan and has rejected claims of third-party mediation. Pakistan, meanwhile, has credited Trump's intervention in preventing a wider conflict.

S Jaishankar Also Responds to Pakistani Journalist

The diplomatic exchanges continued during Jaishankar's interactions with the media in New York. On Friday, a Pakistani journalist asked Jaishankar when the Indian government would stop allegedly sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. Jaishankar responded by questioning the credibility of the accusation and referring to Pakistan as a “terrorist country.”

The exchange took place alongside discussions on maritime security, as India and Liberia announced a new Group of Friends focused on the safety and security of shipping and seafarers.

The latest statements underline the continuing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir and the events of 2025 remaining central points of disagreement at the UN.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 26, 2026 11:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).