Hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivered a highly distorted account of the recent India-Pakistan conflict at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), India delivered a sharp and scathing rebuttal, rubbishing the address as “absurd theatrics” and accusing Islamabad of promoting terrorism.
First Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Petal Gahlot, launched a strong counter-attack, directly challenging Sharif’s false claims about the military confrontation and his warning about “India’s Hindutva extremism.”
India Mocks Pakistan’s ‘Victory’ Claim
Shehbaz Sharif had earlier claimed a military “victory” over India following Operation Sindoor, boasting that Pakistani forces had downed seven Indian jets and sent them to “scrap and dust.”
Gahlot did not mince words in her reply:
“If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars look like victory, as the prime minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it.”
The Indian diplomat highlighted the disparity between Sharif’s claims and the confirmed facts, pointing out that the Indian Air Force confirmed shooting down five Pakistani fighter jets and one early warning aircraft during the action, which targeted terrorist infrastructure.
The Bin Laden Reminder: Countering ‘Hindutva’ Allegations
Sharif’s speech also included a warning that “India’s Hindutva-driven extremism” posed a global threat and a renewed promise to stand with the Kashmiri people.
India swiftly countered, turning the focus back on Pakistan’s history of sponsoring terrorism. Gahlot reminded the UN of Pakistan’s role in harbouring the world’s most wanted terrorist:
“Let us recall that it sheltered Osama bin Laden for a decade, even while pretending to partner in the war against terrorism. Its ministers have just recently acknowledged that they have been operating terrorist camps for decades,” she said, underscoring the charge of “glorifying terrorism.”
On Indus Water Treaty and Dialogue
Sharif also termed India’s recent move to place the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance as “an act of war.”
In response to Sharif’s call for a “composite, comprehensive, and result-oriented” dialogue with India, the Indian diplomat firmly stated that the condition remains unchanged: Pakistan must first shut down all terrorist camps and extradite terrorists wanted by India to create an environment conducive to talks.