Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded sharply to a Pakistani journalist who asked when India would “stop sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan”, retorting, “A terrorist country is asking me that question?”

The exchange took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York recently.

Soon after responding, the Minister and other delegates got up from their chairs and exited the room while the journalist continued his tirade.

India has consistently maintained the position that Pakistan-based extremist groups have carried out multiple attacks in India over the years.

In April 22, 2025, Pakistan-based terrorists attacked the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack killed 26 people, including one Nepali national, and injured several others.

In response, India carried out missile strikes against terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The targets included locations in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum and Chakwal.

The facilities were associated with terrorist infrastructure and had been linked to groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), both of which have been blamed for multiple attacks in India.

Of the nine locations targeted, five were in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and four were in mainland Pakistan.

Bahawalpur has long been associated with Jaish-e-Mohammad and has been identified as an important base for the organisation. Muzaffarabad and Bhimber have also previously been identified by security agencies as transit and logistical points connected with infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.

At the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday, Indian diplomat Kshitij Tyagi said Pakistan should concentrate on its economic problems rather than seeking territory belonging to other countries or supporting terrorism.

“Pakistan would better serve its people by focusing on development, rather than by coveting territory of others or exporting terror, because neither these, nor its theatrics in the Council, would help repay the loans its economy survives on,” Tyagi said.

Source : NDTV