UN, Sep.27.2025:India’s reply to Shehbaz Sharif at UN has once again exposed Islamabad’s double standards on terrorism and peace. After the Pakistani Prime Minister’s speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), India’s First Secretary at its Permanent Mission to the UN, Petal Gahlot, strongly rebutted Sharif’s claims-
Gahlot accused Pakistan of glorifying terrorism and reminded the world that it was Islamabad that had sheltered Osama bin Laden for a decade while pretending to be a U.S. ally in the war on terror.
Shehbaz Sharif’s Speech at the UN General Assembly
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the UNGA with familiar rhetoric, accusing India of using the Pahalgam terror attack for political mileage and reiterating Islamabad’s desire for peace talks.
Sharif controversially credited former U.S. President Donald Trump for preventing war between India and Pakistan, a claim India has repeatedly dismissed in the past.
He insisted that Pakistan had “won the war” with India and was now ready for peace talks on all outstanding issues.
India’s Strong Counterattack
India’s reply to Shehbaz Sharif at UN was sharp and uncompromising. Petal Gahlot described Sharif’s speech as “ridiculous theatrics” and condemned Pakistan’s glorification of terrorism.
She reminded the global community that no amount of lies or propaganda could hide the truth: Pakistan continues to nurture terror groups responsible for attacks on innocent civilians in India.
Pakistan’s History of Shielding Terrorists
India’s representative cited Pakistan’s track record of protecting terrorists. The most striking example was Osama bin Laden, who was found hiding in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011.
This fact continues to haunt Islamabad’s credibility whenever it tries to portray itself as a victim of terrorism rather than a sponsor.
The Brutal Incident India Highlighted
Petal Gahlot also referred to the Pahalgam massacre of April 25, 2025, when terrorists targeted Indian tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front, an extremist outfit believed to have links with Pakistan.
Gahlot accused Islamabad of shielding the perpetrators from accountability at the UN Security Council, undermining global counterterrorism efforts.
The Osama bin Laden Connection Exposed Again
Revisiting the Osama bin Laden episode, India’s reply to Shehbaz Sharif at UN reminded delegates how Pakistan harbored the world’s most wanted terrorist for years.
Gahlot said, “This was the same Pakistan that sheltered Osama bin Laden for over a decade, while pretending to be a partner in the war on terror.”
This stark reminder reinforced India’s argument that Pakistan cannot be trusted when it speaks about peace.
India’s Message on Peace Talks
Shehbaz Sharif’s call for peace talks was met with skepticism in New Delhi’s response. Gahlot said that if Pakistan was truly sincere, it should immediately shut down terror camps operating on its soil and hand over terrorists wanted in India.
She added that genuine peace can only come when Pakistan stops exporting terrorism across the border.
Why India Calls Pakistan’s Claims Hypocritical
India has consistently accused Pakistan of hypocrisy: talking about peace in international forums while backing terror groups domestically.
This duality was once again evident in Sharif’s UN speech and the firm Indian reply that followed.
The Trump Factor in Shehbaz Sharif’s Speech
Sharif’s reference to Donald Trump’s supposed role in averting war between India and Pakistan sparked fresh controversy. India has repeatedly dismissed such claims, stating that no third-party mediation was involved in de-escalating tensions.
New Delhi maintains that all issues with Pakistan are strictly bilateral and will not involve external powers.
International Reactions to the Exchange
While the UN floor has often been a stage for fiery India-Pakistan exchanges, this year’s confrontation gained more attention due to the Pahalgam massacre and ongoing instability in South Asia.
Several analysts noted that India’s direct reference to Osama bin Laden served as a strong reminder of Pakistan’s tainted past.
The Larger India-Pakistan UN Debate
The India-Pakistan rivalry at the UN is decades old, with Kashmir often dominating the discourse. Each year, Pakistan raises the issue, and India counters with reminders of Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorism.
This year, however, India’s focus on the Pahalgam attack and bin Laden’s sheltering gave the rebuttal extra weight.
Expert Opinions on the Diplomatic Clash
Foreign policy experts praised India’s reply to Shehbaz Sharif at UN for being precise and hard-hitting.
According to strategic analyst Brahma Chellaney, “India has consistently highlighted Pakistan’s duplicity, but linking the Pahalgam massacre to Pakistan’s UN behavior strengthens the credibility of New Delhi’s case.”
Lessons from Past UN Confrontations
This is not the first time India has exposed Pakistan at the UN. In past years, Indian diplomats have countered references to Kashmir by pointing to Pakistan’s record on terrorism, minority rights, and democratic backsliding.
The trend has continued, with India ensuring that Pakistan’s attempts to globalize bilateral disputes are neutralized.
What Lies Ahead for India-Pakistan Relations
The heated exchange raises fresh questions about the future of India-Pakistan relations. While Sharif claims to want peace, India insists on accountability first.
Until Pakistan dismantles terror networks, meaningful dialogue appears unlikely. The latest UN spat only reinforces this deadlock.
India’s reply to Shehbaz Sharif at UN was a powerful reminder to the global community: Pakistan cannot hide its long history of supporting terrorism behind empty calls for peace.
By highlighting the Pahalgam attack and Osama bin Laden’s decade-long shelter in Pakistan, New Delhi made it clear that genuine dialogue will only be possible when Islamabad takes concrete action against terror.
