GUWAHATI: India has called out Pakistan at the United Nations, citing Defence Minister Khwaja Asif’s admission that the country has long supported and funded terrorist groups. The statement was raised by Ambassador Yojna Patel, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative, as New Delhi sought to hold Islamabad accountable in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Patel told the UN that Asif’s admission confirmed what India has repeatedly warned — that Pakistan has been a state sponsor of terrorism. “The world can no longer turn a blind eye,” she said, pointing to what she described as an open confession of state complicity in terrorism.
Asif, in a recent interview, said, “We have been doing this dirty work for the US for the past three decades, including the West and the UK,” when asked about Pakistan’s support for armed groups. India highlighted this as further evidence of Islamabad’s historical role in enabling cross-border violence.
Patel also criticised Pakistan for using the UN platform to push propaganda and make unsubstantiated allegations against India. Her remarks came during the launch of the Victims of Terrorism Association Network (VOTAN), an initiative designed to provide a safe and structured space for victims and survivors of terrorism worldwide.
She thanked the international community for its solidarity after the Pahalgam attack and noted that it marked the highest civilian death toll in a single terror incident since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Patel underlined the UN Security Council’s condemnation of the attack, saying terrorism must be rejected unconditionally, irrespective of its motivations.
India responded to the Pahalgam killings by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelling visas issued to Pakistani nationals, and ordering their departure. Diplomatic engagement was downgraded. In turn, Pakistan suspended all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Agreement.
