Jaishankar at UNGA: Blasts Pakistan as Epicentre of Global Terrorism, Says India Ready for Greater UN Role

    29-Sep-2025
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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
 
 
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar sent out a strong message to Pakistan without naming it. Speaking at the UNGA, he said India has faced terrorism since its independence from a neighbour that is “an epicentre of global terrorism”. He pointed out that most major international terror attacks can be traced back to that country and that UN terrorist lists are “full of its nationals”.
 
 
Citing the brutal killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam in April this year as “cross-border barbarism,” Jaishankar said nations that make terrorism a state policy, run terror factories and glorify terrorists must be condemned and hit with relentless international pressure.
 
 
 
 
Addressing the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Jaishankar said, "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".
 
 
Jaishankar cited the recent murder of 26 innocent tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and stressed that nations must unequivocally condemn state-sponsored terrorism.
 
 
"India exercised its right to defend its people against terrorism and brought its organisers and perpetrators to justice," Jaishankar added.
 
 
On May 7, 2025, India carried out precision missile strikes on nine terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu Kashmir under “Operation Sindoor.” The strikes hit key terror hubs to destroy their infrastructure and stop future cross-border attacks. India acted to defend its people and bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice.
 
 
"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," said Jaishankar.
 
 
"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, and when 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," said the EAM.
 
 
Jaishankar added that both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council should be expanded, and "India stands ready to assume greater responsibilities".