External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered a sharp response to a Pakistani journalist who questioned him about terrorism during a media interaction at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The exchange took place on Friday after Jaishankar and Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti addressed reporters on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
As the briefing was concluding, the Pakistani journalist asked Jaishankar, “When will your government stop sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan?”
Jaishankar responded, “A terrorist country is asking me that question. Come on.”
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Harish Parvathaneni, subsequently told the journalist that he had received his response.
Briefing Focused on Safety of Ships and Seafarers
The exchange occurred during a press interaction connected with the launch of the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers, an initiative involving India and Liberia.
The grouping seeks to draw greater international attention to risks faced by commercial vessels and seafarers amid attacks and disruptions across important maritime routes.
Jaishankar is in New York as part of India’s delegation for the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week.
The 81st UNGA General Debate is being held from September 22 to 28, with heads of state, governments and senior representatives from UN member countries presenting their positions on major international issues.
India-Pakistan Tensions Over Terrorism
The exchange comes amid continued tensions between India and Pakistan over terrorism and security.
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of allowing terrorist organisations and individuals targeting India to operate from territory under its control. Pakistan has rejected Indian allegations and has, in turn, accused India of involvement in hostile activities against it.
New Delhi has consistently argued at international forums that cross-border terrorism must be addressed through credible and verifiable action.
The issue intensified following the April 22, 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed.
The United Nations Security Council condemned the attack “in the strongest terms” and called for the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors to be held accountable.
US Designated TRF as Terrorist Organisation
The Resistance Front (TRF), which India has described as a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, was added by the United States to Lashkar-e-Taiba’s designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity in July 2025.
In announcing the decision, the US State Department described TRF as an LeT “front and proxy” and said the group had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.
India has maintained that TRF was involved in the attack and has repeatedly raised the issue at international forums.
India Cites Operation Sindoor as Response to Terror Attack
Following the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting what New Delhi described as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian government characterised the military action as an exercise of its right to defend itself and said the strikes were directed at terrorist infrastructure rather than civilians.
Pakistan disputed India’s account and the two countries traded accusations during the subsequent escalation.
Pakistan Was on FATF Grey List Until 2022
India has also repeatedly raised concerns over terrorist financing and has pointed to Pakistan’s previous inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force’s increased-monitoring list.
Pakistan was placed under FATF increased monitoring in June 2018. In October 2022, FATF removed Pakistan from the list after saying the country had made significant progress in strengthening its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework and had completed required action plans.
The FATF decision did not amount to a finding on the broader political allegations exchanged between India and Pakistan.
Jaishankar Set to Address UNGA
Jaishankar is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly during his New York visit and has also been participating in bilateral and plurilateral meetings on the sidelines of the session.
His exchange with the Pakistani journalist adds another episode to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between New Delhi and Islamabad over terrorism, an issue India has repeatedly sought to foreground at international platforms.
For India, the stated position remains that terrorism cannot be normalised or treated simply as another bilateral political disagreement, while Pakistan continues to contest New Delhi’s allegations.
