External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded sharply to a Pakistani journalist who questioned India’s alleged role in terrorism during a press interaction at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The exchange took place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, during a briefing involving Jaishankar and Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti.
Reporter Raises Terrorism Question
The briefing focused on the newly launched Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers and had been announced as a remarks-only interaction.
Towards the end, a Pakistani reporter asked Jaishankar when the Indian government would stop allegedly sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.
Jaishankar responded: “A terrorist country is asking me that question. Come on.”
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, then told the journalist that he had heard the minister’s response.
Exchange Comes Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
The brief confrontation comes against the backdrop of continuing disagreements between India and Pakistan over terrorism and security.
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of supporting or allowing terrorist networks operating from its territory, while Pakistan has rejected such allegations and has itself made accusations against India.
The specific allegation raised by the reporter was not established by the exchange itself. Jaishankar’s response represented the Indian government’s position in the interaction.
Jaishankar at UN General Assembly
Jaishankar is in New York as part of India’s delegation for the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week. His schedule includes bilateral and multilateral engagements, with his UNGA address expected on Saturday.
The incident also followed a separate interaction in which a journalist questioned Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about allegations that Pakistan harbours terrorists. The two exchanges have drawn attention amid ongoing India-Pakistan diplomatic tensions.
