“Terrorist Country Asking Me?” Jaishankar Hits Back at Pakistani Journalist at UN

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a sharp exchange with a Pakistani journalist on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
The journalist questioned Jaishankar over allegations that India was sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. Jaishankar responded by questioning the journalist’s accusation and asking whether it was coming from what he described as a “terrorist country”.
The brief exchange took place as India and Pakistan continued to clash over terrorism, Kashmir and developments in Pakistan occupied Kashmir at international forums.
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan based terrorist groups of carrying out attacks on Indian territory. The April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed, became a major point of tension between the two countries.
India subsequently carried out missile strikes against what it identified as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The strikes targeted nine locations, including sites in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum and Chakwal.
Five of the targeted locations were in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, while four were in mainland Pakistan. The facilities were linked to terrorist groups including Lashkar e Taiba and Jaish e Mohammed.
India also raised Pakistan’s internal situation at the UN Human Rights Council. Indian diplomat Kshitij Tyagi accused Islamabad of focusing on territorial issues and terrorism instead of addressing its economic and domestic challenges.
Tyagi also referred to reports of deaths, arrests and shortages of essential supplies during protests in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. He questioned Pakistan’s response to allegations concerning food, fuel and medicine shortages.
The latest exchanges highlight the continuing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, with both sides using international forums to present their positions on terrorism, Kashmir, human rights and regional security.