India Blasts Pakistan’s “Absurd Theatrics” at UN, Petal Gahlot Condemns Glorification of Terrorism

New York: India on Saturday sharply criticized Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the United Nations, calling his remarks on Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty “absurd theatrics” and accusing Islamabad of glorifying terrorism.

Responding to Sharif’s speech, Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot said, “Mr President, this assembly witnessed absurd theatrics in the morning from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who once again glorified terrorism that is so central to their foreign policy. However, no degree of drama and no level of lies can conceal the facts.”

Gahlot cited Pakistan’s protection of a terror outfit earlier this year at the UN Security Council, stating, “This is the very same Pakistan which, at the UN Security Council on April 25, 2025, shielded the resistance front, a Pakistani-sponsored terror outfit from the responsibility of carrying out the barbaric massacre of tourists in the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Highlighting Pakistan’s long record of harbouring extremists, she added, “A country long steeped in the tradition of deploying and exporting terrorism, has no shame in advancing the most ludicrous narratives to that end. Let us recall that it sheltered Osama bin Laden for a decade, even while pretending to partner in the war against terrorism. Its ministers have just recently acknowledged that they have been operating terrorist camps for decades. It should come as no surprise that once again this duplicity continues, this time at the level of its Prime Minister.”

During his UN address, Sharif raised the issue of Kashmir, claiming, “I wish to assure Kashmiri people that I stand with them, Pakistan stands with them, and one day soon India’s tyranny in Kashmir will come to a halt.” He also said Pakistan supports Kashmir’s “fundamental right to self-determination through an impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.”

Sharif further accused India of breaching international law regarding the Indus Waters Treaty following the April Pahalgam terror attack, stating, “To us, any violation of this Indus Treaty represents an act of war.” India had suspended its participation in the treaty after 26 civilians were killed in the attack, linking the suspension directly to Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism. New Delhi has maintained that the treaty will only be reinstated if Islamabad takes verifiable steps to end violence.