Jaishankar rejects Pakistani reporter from UN General Assembly: “A terrorist country is asking me?” | Today’s news
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar issued a scathing rebuke to a Pakistani journalist during a press briefing at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Friday.
A Pakistani reporter interrupted the session to ask the Indian minister: “When will your government stop sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan?”
In a brief but to the point reply, Jaishankar said, “A terrorist country is asking me that question.”
The incident came at the end of a press conference held alongside Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, for the Group of Friends for the Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers.
The briefing was officially scheduled as a remarks-only event before the reporter suddenly intervened, according to an ANI report.
Jaishankar is currently leading the Indian delegation during the high-level week of the 81st UN General Assembly. Having already attended several multilateral and bilateral meetings, he is scheduled to formally address the high-level meeting on Saturday.
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Cross-border terrorism
The sharp exchange underscored New Delhi’s continued diplomatic stance on demanding credible action from Islamabad on cross-border terrorism.
Tensions remain particularly acute following the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. In response to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor.
New Delhi’s actions to defend against terrorism have subsequently been recognized by many nations. Global condemnation of the Pahalgam attack was also formally documented in multilateral forums, including a UN Security Council press statement issued in April 2025.
Continued focus on terrorist financing
In global forums, India continues to spearhead efforts against terrorist financing and safe havens. These sustained diplomatic campaigns resulted in the international listing of several terrorist entities and individuals holed up in Pakistan.
By consistently highlighting Islamabad’s failure to dismantle networks of financial support for terrorists, New Delhi has ensured that terrorist operations emanating from Pakistani territory remain under strict international scrutiny.
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‘Indefensible’ attacks on global maritime trade
During the briefing, Jaishankar focused on global maritime security and highlighted a joint India-Liberia initiative bringing together a coalition of countries to address escalating threats to commercial shipping and seafarers.
Jaishankar described a number of recent tragedies involving Indian nationals. He noted that just two days earlier, an Indian sailor had been killed when the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dove was attacked in the Gulf of Oman.
Ten days earlier, an Indian crew member went missing after the El Gaya oil tanker sailing under Panama was hit in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Unfortunately, these are no longer exceptional events,” Jaishankar said.
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Recalling earlier incidents in the Black Sea, he noted that the chief officer of the MV Omorfi, an Indian national, was killed when the vessel was hit in Russian territorial waters on July 18. The next day, four Indian sailors died after the MV Golden Leo was hit after its departure from Odessa. He admitted that the losses went far beyond Indian nationals.
Expressing deep concern over the deteriorating maritime security environment, Jaishankar said, “From the Black Sea to the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, attacks on civilian shipping are becoming a growing cause for concern. He added, “These actions, which disrupt maritime trade and cost innocent lives, are simply indefensible.”
Urging nations to work together to deter these attacks, Jaishankar emphasized that there are massive economic interests involved. With international trade exceeding $140 billion a day — more than 80 percent of which is supported by the oceans — and nearly two million seafarers serving the world’s merchant fleets, he stressed that the crisis goes far beyond any single shipping route.
