India exercised its Right of Reply at the United Nations General Assembly after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address, with First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Petal Gahlot, responding to Pakistan’s statements on terrorism, Kashmir, human rights and other issues.
Responding to Sharif’s remarks, Gahlot questioned Pakistan’s claims regarding democratic rights and human values and said the international community should recognise what she described as the role of the military in Pakistan’s political system.
Gahlot said the world should have no illusion about who calls the shots in Pakistan. She described Pakistan as a regime “of the army, by the army, and for the army” while responding to what she characterised as claims about democratic rights and human values.
She also referred to the presence of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, near the Pakistani Army’s premier academy. Gahlot raised the issue while responding to what she described as remarks by Pakistan’s representative.
According to Gahlot, the reference to bin Laden was relevant in the context of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. She said bin Laden, whom she identified as the mastermind of the attacks, had been living in Abbottabad near the Pakistani Army’s premier academy.
Gahlot also raised the issue of religious intolerance and human rights in Pakistan. She questioned Pakistan’s statements on these subjects and referred to the treatment of minorities and the country’s blasphemy laws.
She said that Pakistan’s claims regarding security and religious intolerance needed to be viewed in the context of its record on these issues. Gahlot also accused Pakistan of carrying out terrorism while claiming to uphold security.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Gahlot reiterated India’s position that the Union Territory is an integral and inalienable part of India and said it would remain so.
Responding to Pakistan’s references to Kashmir, she also raised the issue of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Gahlot referred to the situation in areas including Rawalakot and alleged killings, violence and denial of basic rights.
The Indian representative also raised the issue of cross-border terrorism. Gahlot described it as a long-standing practice by Pakistan and said India would continue to exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism.
Gahlot referred to India’s actions in the previous year and said terrorists would have nowhere to run or hide. She stated that India’s right to defend itself against terrorism would be exercised and continued.
She further said that terrorism, deceit and duplicity would not benefit Pakistan or the wider world. Gahlot expressed India’s confidence that the UN General Assembly would recognise what she described as Pakistan’s policies rather than accept its presentation of events.
The Indian response came after Shehbaz Sharif used his UN General Assembly address to raise the Kashmir issue and speak about the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
Sharif credited US President Donald Trump with what he described as timely intervention during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict. He said the intervention had saved hundreds of millions of lives in South Asia.
India has rejected claims of third-party intervention in the conflict, according to the report.
The Pakistan Prime Minister also said that a just and fair solution to the Kashmir issue was necessary to prevent South Asia from returning to the brink of conflict.
Sharif also referred to the Indus Waters Treaty during his address. He further spoke about Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate talks between Washington and Tehran amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.
During his address, Sharif repeatedly praised Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. He credited Munir’s efforts with helping create space for diplomacy under difficult circumstances.
India’s Right of Reply subsequently addressed several of the issues raised by the Pakistan Prime Minister. Gahlot’s response focused on terrorism, Kashmir, human rights, religious intolerance and Pakistan’s political and security establishment.
On terrorism, India reiterated its position that it retains the right to defend itself against terrorist threats. Gahlot said India’s response to terrorism would continue and that terrorism by Pakistan would have consequences.
On Kashmir, India’s position was reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of the country. The Indian side also directed attention towards Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to Pakistan’s references to the issue.
The exchange at the UN General Assembly reflected the continuing differences between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, terrorism and security issues. Pakistan’s Prime Minister raised Kashmir and other bilateral issues in his address, while India’s representative responded through the Right of Reply.
Gahlot concluded by stating that repeating what India described as falsehoods would not make them true and that Pakistan’s terrorism, deceit and duplicity would neither benefit Pakistan nor the world.
