New Delhi– India strongly condemned Pakistan at the United Nations on Monday, highlighting the recent Pahalgam terror attack and citing a Pakistani minister’s public admission of supporting terrorism.
Speaking at the launch of the Victims of Terrorism Association Network (VoTAN) in New York, Ambassador Yojna Patel, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, drew attention to Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif’s recent televised confession that Pakistan has funded and trained terrorist organizations for decades.
“The whole world has heard Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif admitting and confessing Pakistan’s history of supporting, training, and funding terrorist organizations in a recent television interview,” Ambassador Patel said. “This open confession surprises no one and exposes Pakistan as a rogue state fuelling global terrorism and destabilizing the region. The world can no longer turn a blind eye.”
The remarks come after the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people—25 tourists and one local—marking the deadliest civilian attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
In a televised interview following the Pahalgam attack, Asif acknowledged Pakistan’s long-standing support for terrorism, stating, “We have been doing this dirty work for the US for the past three decades, including the West and the UK.”
Ambassador Patel also criticized Pakistan for “misusing and undermining” the UN platform to “indulge in propaganda and make baseless allegations against India.”
India, she said, understands the enduring impact of terrorism on victims, families, and societies, having suffered from cross-border terrorism for decades. She also expressed deep appreciation for the strong international solidarity shown in response to the Pahalgam attack.
“This is a testimony to the international community’s zero tolerance for terrorism,” Patel said. “We reiterate that terrorism in all its forms must be condemned unequivocally.”
She hailed the creation of VoTAN as a significant step toward strengthening the global fight against terrorism by providing victims a structured, safe space to be heard and supported.
“India believes that initiatives like VoTAN are essential to strengthening the global response to terrorism, ensuring that victims remain at the center of our collective efforts,” she added. (Source: IANS)
