External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a pointed message on terrorism during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, describing an unnamed country as a “serial practitioner of terrorism” while stopping short of directly naming Pakistan.
Jaishankar's remarks came during his address in New York, where he discussed conflicts, terrorism, global security and the need for a more effective international system.
Although the minister did not identify the country by name in the specific passage, his comments came amid a renewed diplomatic confrontation between India and Pakistan at the UN General Assembly.
“Serial Practitioner of Terrorism”
Jaishankar said that India had confronted terrorism for decades and argued that the international community should not treat terrorism selectively.
Referring indirectly to India's western neighbor, he said that a country he described as a “serial practitioner of terrorism” had sought to present itself differently before the international community.
The minister's remarks reflected India's longstanding accusations that Pakistan-based militant groups have carried out attacks against Indian targets. Pakistan has consistently rejected India's allegations and has itself accused India of supporting militant activity inside Pakistan.
The exchange comes during a particularly sensitive period in India-Pakistan relations, following the April 2025 Pahalgam attack and the subsequent military confrontation between the two countries.
Terrorism and the UN
Jaishankar used his UN address to argue that terrorism should not be normalized or given political justification.
India has repeatedly called for stronger international action against terrorist organizations and their financing, while urging countries to avoid double standards in dealing with terrorism.
The Indian government has also emphasized that perpetrators, organizers and supporters of terrorism should face consequences under international law.
Jaishankar said India would continue to defend itself against terrorism while calling for a consistent global approach.
His comments followed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's own address to the General Assembly, in which Sharif raised issues concerning Kashmir and relations with India.
India-Pakistan Dispute at the UN
The latest remarks are part of a broader pattern of diplomatic exchanges between New Delhi and Islamabad at the United Nations.
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of supporting or sheltering militant organizations. Pakistan rejects those allegations and has accused India of human-rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and of supporting militant activity within Pakistan.
Both countries regularly use the UN platform to present their competing positions on Kashmir, terrorism and regional security.
Earlier during the current General Assembly session, Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot exercised India's Right of Reply and sharply criticized Pakistan over terrorism and minority rights.
The back-and-forth highlights the continuing diplomatic divide between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Jaishankar’s Wider UN Message
Terrorism was only one part of Jaishankar's wider address.
The Indian foreign minister also discussed the conflicts in the Gulf, Ukraine and West Asia, calling for restraint, de-escalation and protection of civilians.
On Ukraine, Jaishankar reiterated India's support for dialogue and diplomacy and highlighted the wider global consequences of the conflict.
On West Asia, he said a durable peace would require a two-state solution, while emphasizing the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring humanitarian assistance.
He also warned that countries far removed from conflict zones can suffer economic and security consequences from wars elsewhere.
India’s Position
India has increasingly linked its international diplomatic messaging to the principle that terrorism cannot be justified by political grievances.
Jaishankar's latest comments reinforced that position while avoiding a direct reference to Pakistan in the specific passage.
The wording was significant because it allowed the minister to make India's criticism clear within the broader UN debate without explicitly naming the country.
For Pakistan, however, the statement comes amid Islamabad's continued rejection of New Delhi's accusations and its own criticism of Indian policies.
The two governments therefore remain divided over the causes of regional instability, the Kashmir dispute and responsibility for cross-border militancy.
Jaishankar's reference to a “serial practitioner of terrorism” adds another chapter to that diplomatic contest, as India and Pakistan continue to present sharply contrasting narratives before the international community.
