External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a strong message on terrorism and national security during India’s national statement at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 26, 2026. Referring to remarks made at the Assembly a day earlier, Jaishankar described the speaker as a “serial practitioner of terrorism” without directly naming Pakistan and said attempts to normalise terrorism or claim immunity from its consequences would not stand.
Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s right to defend itself against terrorism, stressing that friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism. He said terrorism remains a persistent threat to peace, particularly when it is state-sponsored and has a cross-border dimension. He also called for governments involved in such activities to be held accountable and urged the international community to maintain a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism.
The remarks came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly, where he raised the Kashmir issue and referred to the 2025 India-Pakistan military confrontation. Sharif also credited US President Donald Trump with what he described as timely intervention during the conflict. India has maintained that the subsequent cessation of hostilities followed direct communication between India and Pakistan, without third-party intervention.
Jaishankar also highlighted the need to tackle the financial networks that support terrorism. He called for terror financing channels to be exposed and countered, while maintaining that there should be no dilution in international efforts against terrorism. His comments reinforced India’s stated position that governments supporting or facilitating cross-border terrorism should face accountability.
The External Affairs Minister’s remarks also came against the backdrop of India’s response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi has continued to cite the right to defend itself against terrorism as part of its security position.
Beyond terrorism, Jaishankar’s UNGA address covered wider international issues, including reforms to multilateral institutions, India’s role in the Global South, humanitarian assistance and the potential of artificial intelligence to support development and economic growth. He also called for restraint, de-escalation and protection of civilians amid ongoing international conflicts.
Jaishankar’s remarks at the UN General Assembly underline India’s continued emphasis on combating terrorism, addressing terror financing and holding governments accountable for cross-border terrorist activities, while reiterating New Delhi’s stated right to respond to threats against its security.
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