Threats till May 9, ceasefire plea on May 10: India slams Pakistan PM at UN

New York: In a sharply worded response, India condemned Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accusing him of glorifying terrorism and distorting facts about the India-Pakistan conflict.

The rebuttal came from Petal Gahlot, First Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, who delivered India’s Right of Reply shortly after Sharif’s speech.

“This Assembly witnessed absurd theatrics this morning from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who once again glorified terrorism, which is central to their foreign policy,” Gahlot said.

She highlighted India’s counter-terror operations, particularly Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror hideouts in Bahawalpur and Muridke in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was launched on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

“A picture speaks a thousand words, and we saw many pictures of terrorists slain in Bahawalpur and Muridke terror complexes by Indian forces during Operation Sindoor. When senior Pakistani military and civilian officials publicly glorify and pay homage to such notorious terrorists, can there be any doubt about the proclivities of this regime?” she asked.

Gahlot dismissed Sharif’s claims about the recent conflict as “bizarre” and misleading. She clarified that Pakistan’s military had pleaded directly with India for a cessation of fighting during Operation Sindoor. “The record is clear: until May 9, Pakistan was threatening further attacks on India. But on May 10, their military sought a cessation of hostilities,” she said, emphasising that there is no room for any third-party intervention in bilateral issues between New Delhi and Islamabad.

She further accused Pakistan of responsibility for terrorist attacks on Indian soil and underscored India’s right to self-defence. “As in the past, Pakistan is responsible for terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in India. We have exercised our right to defend our people and have brought the organisers and perpetrators to justice,” Gahlot said.

Addressing Sharif’s claims of wanting peace with India, she said: “The Pakistani Prime Minister has spoken about wanting peace. If he is sincere, the pathway is clear. Pakistan must immediately shut down all terrorist camps and hand over terrorists wanted in India.”

Highlighting Pakistan’s internal contradictions, she added: “It is ironic that a country which wallows in hate, bigotry, and intolerance should preach to this Assembly on matters of faith.”

Sharif had controversially credited former US President Donald Trump with preventing a potential war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and praised him for efforts to promote peace in South Asia, even nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Sharif also called for a “composite, comprehensive and result-oriented” dialogue with India on all outstanding issues while criticising New Delhi over the situation in Kashmir.