Gulf Red Sea Commercial Shipping Attacks Simply Unsustainable: Jaishankar as India, Liberia Announce ‘Group of Friends’

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar speaks during a panel discussion titled ‘Ruptures & Ramparts: Building Bridges for a Changing World’ in New York. | Photo credit: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (September 25, 2026) cited recent incidents of attacks against sailors and ships, saying they were “unfortunately” no longer exceptional occurrences. His remarks came as India and Liberia announced that they had established a “group of friends” on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly for the safety and security of maritime transport and seafarers.

The initiative was launched at a ministerial meeting of the “Friends for the Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers”. “India as a major source of seafarers and Liberia as the largest shipping registry have come together to emphasize the safety and security of shipping and seafarers,” Mr. Jaishankar said at the meeting.

“Over the past few months, merchant ships and ports have been subjected to repeated attacks in and around the Persian Gulf, Red Sea… These actions, which disrupt maritime trade and cost innocent lives, are simply indefensible,” he added.

Amid ongoing global conflicts, merchant shipping and seafarers face increased risks in various regions, including the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, Black Sea and Somalia.

A significant number of Indian seafarers serve on board both Indian- and foreign-flagged vessels operating in or transiting these regions, exposing them to the associated maritime security risks.

A terrorist country asks me this question: Jaishankar to a Pakistani journalist

Mr. Jaishankar also reacted strongly to a Pakistani journalist who asked him a question related to terrorism.

“A terrorist country is asking me that question. Come on,” he said in a forceful response to a Pakistani journalist’s question at the UN.

After remarks by India and Liberia at the UN headquarters, a Pakistani journalist stood up and shouted a question at Mr. Jaishankar: “When will your government stop sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan?”

India’s permanent representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, told a Pakistani journalist: “You’ve heard your answer. You’ve heard your answer, loud and clear.”

On Thursday (September 24, 2026), an Indian journalist asked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as he entered the UN building: “When will you stop harboring terrorists?”

Published – 25 Sep 2026 20:56 IST