Jaishankar Slams Pakistan at UNGA and Pushes for Reforms in Global Bodies

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday that India will protect itself against terrorism and that the world must not soften its strict stance against terror groups. Speaking on the fifth day of the 81st UN session in New York, Mr. Jaishankar answered comments made a day earlier by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Pakistan and Water Treaty

Mr. Sharif had used his speech to criticize India over last year's Operation Sindoor, called Kashmir the country's main focus, and accused the Indian government of mistreating minorities. He also claimed India was misusing the Indus Waters Treaty by keeping it on hold. Mr. Jaishankar hit back by stating that friendship cannot go hand in hand with terror, which makes prior agreements doubtful. He also pointed out that nations that use cross-border terror as state policy must face consequences.

Global Conflicts and UN Reform

Moving beyond regional issues, Mr. Jaishankar spoke about wars in Ukraine and West Asia, noting that nations far from these battlegrounds are suffering heavily through shortages of food, fuel, fertilizers, and finance. He highlighted that 18 Indian workers have died due to attacks on ships in these war zones, prompting India to join Liberia and 23 other nations to speak out against such actions. Regarding the war in Gaza, he stated that India supports a two-state solution and keeps sending relief items to Palestinians. Finally, he called for a shift from the post-1945 global setup to a more democratic and diverse world order, while pushing for changes to expand the UN Security Council.