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India slams Shehbaz Sharif's UNGA speech: 'No shame… Pakistan sheltered Osama bin Laden'
India criticised Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif for glorifying terrorism during his UNGA speech, stating his claims distort facts.
India hit out at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accusing Islamabad of glorifying terrorism and distorting facts.
Exercising India’s right of reply at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) after Shehbaz Sharif’s address, first secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Petal Gahlot on Friday (local time) launched a sharp rebuttal.
“Mr President, this assembly witnessed absurd theatrics in the morning from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who once again glorified terrorism that is so central to their foreign policy. However, no degree of drama and no level of lies can conceal the facts,” Petal Gahlot said.
In his address to the General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif on Friday referred to the 'Operation Sindoor' and claimed that "seven of the Indian jets" were damaged during the four-day conflict in May.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh last month said Indian jets shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and a large aircraft during 'Operation Sindoor'.
Petal Gahlot reminded the assembly that at the UN Security Council on April 25, 2025, Pakistan shielded “The Resistance Front – a Pakistani-sponsored terror outfit” from responsibility for the “barbaric massacre of tourists in the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”
India targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during the operation launched on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
“A picture speaks a thousand words, and we saw many pictures of terrorists slain in Bahawalpur and Muridke terror complexes by Indian forces during Operation Sindoor. When senior Pakistani military and civilian officials publicly glorify and pay homage to such notorious terrorists, can there be any doubt about the proclivities of this regime? The Prime Minister of Pakistan also advanced a bizarre account of the recent conflict with India. The record on this matter is clear. Till 9th May, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India. But on 10th May, the military pleaded with us directly for a cessation to the fighting,” she added.
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Gahlot further said, “Mr President, a country long steeped in the tradition of deploying and exporting terrorism has no shame in advancing the most ludicrous narratives to that end. Let us recall that it sheltered Osama bin Laden for a decade, even while pretending to partner in the war against terrorism, its ministers have just recently acknowledged that they have been operating terrorist camps for decades. It should come as no surprise that once again this duplicity continues, this time at the level of its Prime Minister.”
In his address, Sharif praised US President Donald Trump, saying his "efforts for peace helped avert a … war in South Asia".
"In recognition of President Trump's wonderful and outstanding contribution to promote peace in our part of the world, Pakistan nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is the least we could do … I think he truly is a man of peace," he said.
India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations of the two militaries.
Sharif made a brief visit to Washington DC on Thursday, where he, along with Field Marshal Asim Munir, met Trump in the White House. Sharif described Trump as a "man of peace" and lauded his “courageous and decisive" leadership in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India.
The Pakistani leader also referred to India's decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. “To us, any violation of this Indus Treaty represents an act of war,” he said.
As Pakistan has done every year, Sharif raised the issue of Kashmir in his address.
Sharif said that the people of Pakistan stand with the people of Kashmir and “Kashmir will gain its fundamental right to self-determination through an impartial plebiscite under the auspices" of the United Nations.
Sharif said Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, adding that his country faces “externally-sponsored terrorism”, particularly from “foreign-funded” groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army and its Majid brigade.
He also said that “there must be no space for hate speech, discrimination or violence against any person, or against any religion”.
(With inputs from agencies)
