AI Generated Summary
- In a blistering response at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), India has accused Pakistan’s military of “pleading” for a cessation of hostilities during May’s Operation Sindoor, dismissing Islamabad’s claims of victory and rejecting any scope for third-party intervention in bilateral issues.
- On April 25, the Council released a statement condemning the massacre but omitted mention of The Resistance Front after Pakistan allegedly lobbied to remove the group’s name.
- “Following Operation Sindoor, we saw Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Hafiz Abdul Rauf leading prayers for those killed in strikes on the LeT’s headquarters, attended by members of the Pakistan Army,” she said.
In a blistering response at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), India has accused Pakistan’s military of “pleading” for a cessation of hostilities during May’s Operation Sindoor, dismissing Islamabad’s claims of victory and rejecting any scope for third-party intervention in bilateral issues.
Petal Gahlot, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, delivered India’s Right of Reply on Friday, following Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s morning address. Gahlot condemned what she described as “absurd theatrics” from Sharif, who she said once again “glorified terrorism that is so central to Pakistan’s foreign policy.”
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Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam Terror Attack
India launched Operation Sindoor in May as retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. The assault was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
According to Gahlot, the Pakistani military sought a halt to the fighting after Indian forces “inflicted severe damage” on multiple Pakistani airbases. “Till May 9, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India. But on May 10, its military pleaded with us directly for a cessation to the fighting,” she said. “The intervening event was the destruction caused to multiple Pakistani airbases. The pictures of that damage are, of course, publicly accessible.”
India Dismisses Pakistan’s Claims of Victory
Sharif had earlier claimed Pakistan had “won the war” against India during the conflict and thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating a ceasefire through his “bold and visionary leadership.”
India strongly refuted that claim, asserting that any cessation of hostilities came only after direct communication between the two militaries’ Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO).
“If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars look like victory, as the prime minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it,” Gahlot said pointedly.
Pakistan’s “Glorification of Terrorism”
India’s representative also lambasted Pakistan for what she described as its “open glorification of terrorists.” Gahlot cited photographs of slain militants in Bahawalpur and Muridke, reportedly killed in Indian strikes, and condemned Pakistan’s military and civilian leadership for paying homage to them.
“Following Operation Sindoor, we saw Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Hafiz Abdul Rauf leading prayers for those killed in strikes on the LeT’s headquarters, attended by members of the Pakistan Army,” she said. “When senior Pakistani officials glorify such notorious terrorists, can there be any doubt about the proclivities of this regime?”
“No Room for Third-Party Mediation”
Reiterating India’s long-held stance, Gahlot told the UN that all matters between India and Pakistan are to be resolved bilaterally, without external involvement.
“India and Pakistan have long agreed that any outstanding issue between them will be addressed bilaterally. There is no room for any third party in that regard,” she said.
UN Security Council Controversy
India also criticized Pakistan’s diplomatic maneuvering at the UN Security Council following the Pahalgam attack. On April 25, the Council released a statement condemning the massacre but omitted mention of The Resistance Front after Pakistan allegedly lobbied to remove the group’s name.
“No degree of drama and no level of lies can conceal the facts,” Gahlot declared. “It was Pakistan that shielded TRF from accountability at the UN.”
India’s Message: Zero Tolerance for Terrorism
In closing, India accused Pakistan of being a long-time sponsor of global terrorism, referencing its sheltering of Osama bin Laden. “Pakistan’s ministers have recently admitted that they have been operating terrorist camps for decades,” Gahlot noted.
She reaffirmed India’s position that there will be “no distinction between terrorists and their sponsors,” adding: “Nor will we allow terrorism to be practised under the cover of nuclear blackmail. India will never bow to such threats.”
Responding to Sharif’s offer of a “composite, comprehensive and result-oriented dialogue,” Gahlot said the path forward was clear: “If Pakistan is sincere, it must immediately shut down all terrorist camps and hand over terrorists wanted in India.”
India’s address drew wide attention within the UNGA, marking one of the most forceful condemnations of Pakistan’s policies in recent years.
