India challenges Pakistan at UN over state-sponsored terrorism

India exercised its Right of Reply on Wednesday during proceedings of the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee, which is examining measures to eliminate international terrorism. The intervention came in response to a statement by Pakistan's representative at the forum.

Raghoo Puri, First Secretary at India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, questioned Pakistan's commitment to counter-terrorism efforts. "Pakistan speaks of combating terrorism while seeking to obscure the very question that this committee must confront: What happens when terrorists are financed, facilitated, trained, sheltered, or supported from the territory of a state?" Puri said.

India's statement targeted Pakistan's recent announcement of rewards for Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, characterising the move as an attempt to conceal state sponsorship of militant groups. New Delhi emphasised that major terrorist attacks—including the 2001 assault on the United States, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the Pahalgam bombing—remained fresh in global memory.

Puri stressed that defeating terrorism requires concrete action rather than public declarations. "Terrorism cannot be defeated by declarations and instead requires action against its perpetrators, organisers, and financiers," he said, underscoring India's consistent position on the issue. The intervention reflects ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan over cross-border terror operations.