'Serial practitioner of terrorism': EAM Jaishankar takes aim at Pakistan in UN address

India strongly hit back at Pakistan in the UN General Assembly on Saturday, asserting that arguments by the “serial practitioner of terrorism” to normalise the scourge and claim immunity from its consequences will not stand.

“Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented facts before this Assembly,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in his address to the General Debate at the high-level 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Without naming Pakistan and the address by its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the UN on Friday, Jaishankar said arguments were invoked to "normalise terrorism, and claim immunity from its consequences."


"That will not stand," he stressed.

“Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised,” Jaishankar said, asserting that “friendship and goodwill cannot co-exist with terrorism".

Earlier, Sharif had used the UN General Assembly podium to credit US President Donald Trump for his "timely intervention" in the 2025 conflict against India.

In his about 23-minute address, Sharif also raised the issue of Kashmir in his address, saying that to ensure South Asia never reaches that precipice of the conflict of 2025 ever again, a just and fair solution of the Kashmir issue is required.

Read more: 'A terrorist country is asking me that question, come on': Jaishankar's blunt retort to Pakistani reporter at UN briefing in New York

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Jaishankar remarked that hostilities continue to destabilise global security and developmental progress, leaving countries distant from battle zones exposed to their fallout.

Emphasising the broader global reverberations of armed conflict, Jaishankar stated, "Countries far from conflicts are being penalized for no fault of theirs. Those most impacted often have the least say. This assembly must face up to the true state of affairs. This year, we are witnessing a conflict in the Gulf, one that is exacerbating an already difficult situation. We remain deeply concerned over continuing hostilities. The targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers, transiting international waterways, is simply unacceptable. India calls upon all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, ensure protection of civilians, and uninterrupted flow of energy and commerce."

Read more: EAM Jaishankar at UNGA: Attack on Pakistan, 4F crisis and global wars push world towards ‘abyss’; top quotes

He stressed that the international community must confront persistent threats to international peace and stability, drawing attention to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf as a compounding factor on an already fragile global landscape. Jaishankar said that the two state solution to the Middle East crisis can bring durable peace.

"India is prepared to do everything possible to ameliorate this situation, especially with regard to food and energy security. Tensions and violence also regrettably continue in West Asia or the Middle East. We strongly believe that a durable and lasting peace requires a two-state solution. In the meanwhile, India is contributing to humanitarian assistance and relief efforts for the Palestinian people. Let us recognize that peace is not just the absence of war. If the world is subjected to continuous threats and pressures, then we are really living on the edge of an abyss. All it takes is one more step to push us over. Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen stability, security, and predictability. These are crucial elements of the enabling environment for peace..."

Addressing the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar noted that the ongoing war remains a critical international concern, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for the cessation of hostilities.

Quoting the Prime Minister's stance on the matter, Jaishankar stated, “As Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, endless war must give way now to an end to war. India supports ongoing initiatives to bring peace.”

Additionally, he underscored the imperative of safeguarding maritime crews and ensuring stable distribution channels for food grains and energy resources, affirming India's readiness to assist in mitigating global food and energy security challenges.