"It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways,” said External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
He warned that India will exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism, while saying friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with the scourge, in a sharp response to Pakistan at the UN General Assembly.
Without naming Pakistan, Jaishankar accused a “serial practitioner of terrorism” of misrepresenting facts before the Assembly and attempting to “normalise terrorism” and claim immunity from its consequences.
“That will not stand.
Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised,” Jaishankar said while delivering India's national statement at the General Debate of the 81st session of the UNGA.
“Friendship and goodwill cannot co-exist with terrorism. And understandings premised on that will naturally be called into question. It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways,” he said.
Jaishankar said terrorism remained a persistent threat to peace, particularly when it was state-sponsored and had a cross-border dimension.
“Governments indulging in such practices must be held accountable. There must be no dilution in our zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism,” he said, calling for terror financing networks to be exposed and countered.
His remarks came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raised Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty in his UNGA address and credited US President Donald Trump for his “timely intervention” during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
New Delhi has maintained that the subsequent ceasefire was reached through direct communication between the two countries, with no third-party intervention.
Beyond terrorism, Jaishankar called for reforms to multilateral institutions, saying the world was moving towards a multipolar order. He also highlighted India's role as a first responder during natural disasters and conflicts and its development and capacity-building initiatives across the Global South.
On artificial intelligence, he said India viewed it as a driver of human empowerment, economic growth and large-scale problem-solving, and backed greater cooperation with the Global South.
Extracts from the speech:
".. even as we meet, conflicts and confrontations remain our primary preoccupation. The inability to maintain peace, is not just undermining security, but threatening progress, and retarding development.
In a globalized world, the effects of war are felt worldwide. Countries far from conflicts, are being penalized for no fault of theirs. Those most impacted, often have the least say. This Assembly must face up to the true state of affairs.
"This year, we are witnessing a conflict in the Gulf, one that is exacerbating an already difficult situation. We remain deeply concerned over continuing hostilities. The targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers, transiting international waterways, is simply unacceptable.
India calls upon all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, ensure protection of civilians, and uninterrupted flow of energy and commerce."
" The conflict in Ukraine, now in its fifth year, is equally concerning.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, endless war must give way now, to an end to war.
"India supports ongoing initiatives to bring peace. Even as this is underway, there is an urgent need to address the security of seafarers, and supply of food grains and energy. India is prepared to do everything possible, to ameliorate this situation, especially with regard to food and energy security."
Dr Jaishankar also said - "Tensions and violence also regrettably continue in West Asia or the Middle East.
We strongly believe, that a durable and lasting peace, requires a Two State solution.
In the meanwhile, India is contributing to humanitarian assistance, and relief efforts for the Palestinian people.
"Let us recognize that peace, is not just the absence of war.
If the world is subjected to continuous threats and pressures, then we are really living on the edge of an abyss. All it takes is one more step to push us over.
Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen stability, security and predictability. These are crucial elements, of the enabling environment for peace.
"If any of them are undermined, peace will inevitably be weakened. After eight decades of the UN, this should have become our second nature."
"Instead, what we are actually seeing, is a weaponization of everything.
"A mindset of extreme competition has set in, undermining institutions, and establishing chokepoints. It extends from the world of finance, to constricting market access, disrupting supply chains and withholding technology.
"Resources and connectivity have become particularly subject to leveraging. As a result, nations are now more focused on de-risking and diversifying. While this may secure their interests to varying degrees, the overall atmosphere is no longer that of trust or goodwill."
ends
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