India Rebukes Pakistan at UNGA, Accuses Islamabad of Glorifying Terrorism and Spreading Falsehoods

India on Friday delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accusing Islamabad of glorifying terrorism and distorting facts on the global stage.

Exercising India’s Right of Reply, Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot described Sharif’s remarks as “absurd theatrics,” noting that Pakistan had once again attempted to peddle a fabricated narrative. “This assembly witnessed absurd theatrics in the morning from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who once again glorified terrorism that is so central to their foreign policy. However, no degree of drama and no level of lies can conceal the facts,” she stated.

Gahlot reminded the assembly of Pakistan’s record of shielding terrorist groups, highlighting its role in blocking accountability for a Pakistan-sponsored group responsible for killing tourists in Jammu and Kashmir during an April 2025 attack. She recalled that Islamabad harbored Osama bin Laden for nearly a decade while professing to be a partner in the fight against terrorism, and cited admissions by Pakistani ministers themselves of running terror camps.

Underscoring India’s recent counter-terror operations, she pointed to the elimination of terrorists in Bahawalpur and Muridke during Operation Sindoor. “When senior Pakistani military and civilian officials glorify such notorious terrorists, can there be any doubt about the proclivities of this regime?” she asked.

Addressing Sharif’s claims regarding the recent conflict with India, Gahlot described them as “bizarre.” She noted that while Pakistan had threatened further attacks on India until 9 May, by the next day its military had directly pleaded for a ceasefire after Indian strikes caused severe damage to multiple Pakistani airbases. “If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it,” she remarked.

Holding Islamabad directly responsible for a terrorist attack on civilians in Pahalgam, Gahlot reiterated India’s right to self-defense. She demanded that Pakistan “immediately shut down all terrorist camps and hand over to us terrorists wanted in India” if it truly sought peace.

Reaffirming India’s consistent stance on bilateralism, she said, “India and Pakistan have long agreed that any outstanding issues will be addressed bilaterally. There is no room for any third party in this regard.”

Concluding with a strong warning, Gahlot declared: “Where terrorism is concerned, we are making it clear that there will be no distinction between the terrorists and their sponsors. Both will be held accountable. Nor will we allow terrorism to be practised under the cover of nuclear blackmail. India will never bow to such threats. Our message to the world is clear: there must be zero tolerance for terrorism.”

Prime Minister Sharif, in his UNGA address, had accused India of violating international law, alleging aggression in May and blaming New Delhi for exploiting the Pahalgam tragedy for political purposes. He also claimed—without verification—that the Pakistani Air Force had shot down seven Indian fighter jets.

Sharif further criticized India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, calling it a violation of international law and branding any such move “an act of war.” India, however, clarified that the suspension was a countermeasure to Pakistan’s continued cross-border terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.