Terror sponsors cannot escape consequences, says Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered a strong message on terrorism and cross-border violence at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), warning that countries supporting terrorism cannot expect immunity from its consequences.
Without directly naming Pakistan in his UN address, Jaishankar described the country as a “serial practitioner of terrorism”. He rejected attempts to use the international forum to normalise or justify terrorism.
“A serial practitioner of terrorism has misrepresented facts before this Assembly, seeking to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences. That will not stand,” Jaishankar said.
The External Affairs Minister asserted India’s right to respond to terrorism and stressed that diplomatic goodwill cannot coexist indefinitely with continued terrorist attacks.
“We will exercise our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. Friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism. Understandings based on them will naturally be called into question. It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to change its ways,” he said.
Jaishankar said terrorism remains a persistent threat to international peace and security, particularly when states allegedly facilitate attacks across borders.
“When a state sponsors it to carry out attacks across borders, it becomes a direct affront to the global order,” he said.
He called on the international community to hold governments involved in cross-border terrorism accountable.
“Governments that engage in cross-border terrorism must be called out,” Jaishankar said.
His remarks came amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan and New Delhi’s longstanding allegations that Pakistan-based terrorist groups have targeted India. Pakistan has rejected India’s accusations and has made counter-allegations against New Delhi.
Jaishankar also had a brief but pointed exchange with a Pakistani journalist during a media interaction on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
After the journalist questioned India over alleged sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan and asked when New Delhi would stop such activities, Jaishankar responded:
“A terrorist country is asking me that question. Come on.”
The exchange came after Jaishankar and Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti spoke to reporters following discussions on the safety and security of shipping and seafarers. The exchange was subsequently reported by Indian media.
Beyond terrorism, Jaishankar used his UNGA address to discuss wider global security concerns. Referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, he said the war, now in its fifth year, remains a matter of concern.
“Endless war must give way now to an end to war,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position. Jaishankar said India supports ongoing efforts to bring about peace, while highlighting the need to protect seafarers and ensure uninterrupted supplies of food, grain and energy.
He also stressed that peace should not be understood merely as the absence of armed conflict.
“Peace is not just the absence of war,” Jaishankar said, warning that continuous threats and pressure can leave the international system “on the edge of an abyss.”
He argued that greater stability, security and predictability are essential for creating conditions conducive to lasting peace.
The safety of commercial shipping and seafarers was another major theme of Jaishankar’s engagements at the UN.
Addressing the issue of conflict in the Gulf, he said attacks on commercial shipping were unacceptable and called on all sides to exercise restraint and protect civilians and seafarers.
“There can be no justification for such violence and loss of life. Put simply, these attacks must stop,” Jaishankar said.
India, one of the world’s major sources of seafarers, has joined Liberia, which has the world’s largest shipping registry by tonnage, in bringing together countries concerned about maritime security and major ship-owning nations.
Jaishankar’s interventions at the UN therefore combined India’s concerns over terrorism and cross-border violence with broader calls for international stability, maritime security and an end to ongoing conflicts.
Jaishankar ended his speech at UNGA81 with a Mahatma Gandhi quote: “There’s no way to peace; peace is the way.”
