Jaishankar Demolishes Sharif At UNGA; Calls Pakistan “Epicentre Of Global Terrorism”

New York: External affairs minister S Jaishankar struck down all claims made by Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday.

He launched a scathing attack on Pakistan, calling it “an epicentre of global terrorism”, and said India has long grappled with terrorism emanating from its neighbourhood.

Jaishankar noted that many major international terror attacks have been traced back to one neighbour, with UN lists of designated terrorists dominated by its nationals. Citing the Pahalgam terror attack as the latest instance of “cross-border barbarism,” Jaishankar stressed that India had exercised its right to defend its citizens and ensured the perpetrators were brought to justice

“India has confronted this challenge since its independence, having a neighbour that is an epicentre of global terrorism. For decades now, major international terrorist attacks are traced back to that one country. UN’s designated lists of terrorists are replete with its nationals. The most recent example of cross-border barbarism was the murder of innocent tourists in Pahalgam in April this year,” the external affairs minister said.

India remains determined to protect its people, secure their interests, at home and abroad, he said, stressing that while asserting its rights, India must also confront threats with determination. Countering terrorism, he said, remains a key priority as it embodies a mix of bigotry, violence, intolerance and fear.

“While asserting our rights, we must also firmly face up to threats. Countering terrorism is a particular priority because it synthesises bigotry, violence, intolerance and fear,” Jaishankar said.

“India exercised its right to defend its people against terrorism and brought its organisers and perpetrators to justice. Because terrorism is a shared threat, it is essential that there is much deeper international cooperation. When nations openly declare terrorism a state policy, when terror hubs operate on an industrial scale, when terrorists are publicly glorified, then such actions must be unequivocally condemned. The financing of terrorism must be choked even as prominent terrorists are publicly glorified, then such actions must be unequivocally condemned. The financing of terrorism must be choked even as prominent terrorists are sanctioned. Relentless pressure must be applied on the entire terrorism ecosystem. Those who condone nations that sponsor terror will find that it comes back to bite them,” he added.

Sharif, during his address, had totally bypassed the issue of terrorism and brought up Kashmir and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India as a follow up to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.