Pakistan’s Mission to the United Nations today delivered a powerful and principled rebuttal at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), rejecting the undignified and baseless accusations of terrorism leveled by Indian diplomats. Pakistan called out India’s desperate attempt to malign a sovereign state and distract the global community from its own systemic atrocities and policy of state terrorism.
Countering Undignified Rhetoric
The diplomatic clash unfolded during the UNGA General Debate following provocative remarks by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who described Pakistan, without naming it directly, as the “epicentre of global terrorism,” and a subsequent attempt by an Indian diplomat to derisively refer to the country as “Terroristan.”
Exercising the Right of Reply, Muhammad Rashid, Second Secretary at Pakistan’s Mission to the UN, categorically denounced the slurs, calling the rhetoric “utterly shameful” and an exposure of India’s profound frustration and lack of substantive argument.
“By engaging in this kind of rhetoric, India diminishes its own credibility, showing the world that it has no substantive argument to offer, only cheap slurs unworthy of serious discourse,” Mr. Rashid stated to the 193-member Assembly.
India Branded a “Serial Perpetrator of Terrorism”
Mr. Rashid exposed the hypocrisy of the Indian accusations, branding India as a “serial perpetrator of terrorism” and detailing its role in destabilizing the region.
- Evidence of State-Sponsored Sabotage: Pakistan reiterated its commitment to peace while simultaneously citing the capture of serving Indian naval officer, Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, as irrefutable proof of Indian intelligence networks involved in clandestine operations and targeted killings within Pakistan.
- State Terrorism in IIOJK: The representative forcefully accused New Delhi of “state terrorism” in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where he noted that extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and staged encounters are routine and widespread.
- Proxy Warfare: Pakistan highlighted that India continues to wage a covert campaign through proxies, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and its Majeed Brigade, which have turned places of worship, education, and livelihood into sites of bloodshed.
Rejecting False Pretexts for Aggression
Pakistan firmly rejected the charge of “cross-border barbarism” related to the Pahalgam attack, dismissing it as mere propaganda. Mr. Rashid noted that Pakistan had unequivocally condemned the incident and offered an independent probe through the UN Security Council (UNSC), which India refused.
Furthermore, Pakistan condemned India’s use of the episode as a pretext for “blatant aggression” between May 7 and 10, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 54 civilians, including 15 children and 13 women. Pakistan’s response, operating under Article 51 of the UN Charter, was strictly limited to targeting military assets, leading to the downing of multiple Indian aircraft.
Commitment to Peace and Counter-Terrorism Sacrifice
Underscoring its unparalleled commitment to the global counter-terrorism effort, Mr. Rashid reminded the Assembly of Pakistan’s immense sacrifice, with more than 90,000 lives lost in its fight against terrorism.
Concluding his remarks, the Pakistani representative stressed that the future prosperity and stability desired by the 1.9 billion people of South Asia cannot be achieved through threats and intimidation.
“True progress requires sincerity, mutual respect, dialogue and diplomacy—principles Pakistan has upheld, and which India must finally choose to embrace, if it truly seeks peace,” he asserted. Pakistan’s desire for a meaningful, comprehensive dialogue with India remains firm, but such talks can only proceed on the basis of dignity and respect, not mockery and slander.
