Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Jaishankar Defends India’s Right to Self-Defence at UNGA
India’s foreign minister spoke at an important United Nations meeting.
He said India has the right to protect itself from terrorist attacks.
He criticised Pakistan without naming it directly.
He said countries cannot claim friendship while supporting terrorism.
He asked the world to hold states accountable for terrorism sponsored by governments.
His speech responded to comments by Pakistan’s prime minister about Kashmir and a 2025 conflict.
India has denied those claims.
Jaishankar also discussed India’s work in disaster relief, sustainable living and artificial intelligence.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted India’s right to defend itself against terrorism at the UN General Assembly.
He criticised an unnamed “serial practitioner of terrorism,” implicitly referring to Pakistan.
Jaishankar said friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism and called for accountability for state-sponsored terrorism.
His remarks countered Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s earlier comments about a 2025 conflict and Kashmir, which India has denied.
Jaishankar also highlighted India’s disaster-response role, Global South contributions, Mission LiFE and its vision for AI.
- Who
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke for India, while Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s earlier remarks were also addressed.
- What
- Jaishankar defended India’s right to self-defence against terrorism and criticised Pakistan’s alleged misrepresentation of facts.
- When
- Saturday, during the United Nations General Assembly.
- Where
- New York, at the United Nations General Assembly.
- Why
- He was responding to terrorism-related concerns and to earlier remarks by Shehbaz Sharif about a 2025 conflict and Kashmir.
India’s Position
Pakistan’s Reported Position
Terrorism and self-defence
India’s Position
India says it has the right to defend itself against terrorism and supports accountability for state-sponsored terrorism.
Pakistan’s Reported Position
The article reports that Jaishankar implicitly accused Pakistan of being a serial practitioner of terrorism, but it does not provide Pakistan’s response to that accusation.
Kashmir and the 2025 conflict
India’s Position
India denied Pakistan’s reported claims concerning a 2025 conflict and Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Reported Position
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier referred to a 2025 conflict and Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly.
- Speaker
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
- Forum
- United Nations General Assembly
- Location
- New York
- Central position
- India’s right to defend itself against terrorism
- Criticism
- Jaishankar criticised an unnamed “serial practitioner of terrorism,” implicitly referring to Pakistan.
- Other topics
- India’s disaster-response role, Global South contributions, Mission LiFE and AI