External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a sharp response to a Pakistani journalist during a media interaction at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), dismissing an attempt to question India on terrorism by remarking, “A terrorist country is asking me that question.”
The exchange took place after Jaishankar addressed journalists following the inaugural meeting of the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers, an initiative launched by India and Liberia to highlight growing threats to commercial shipping and maritime workers.
During the interaction, a Pakistani journalist sought to challenge Jaishankar on the issue of terrorism in South Asia. Before the question could develop into a broader argument, the Indian minister responded directly, triggering a brief but tense exchange. Videos of the interaction quickly circulated on social media and drew widespread attention.
Jaishankar has consistently maintained that terrorism remains one of the biggest threats to regional stability and has repeatedly accused Pakistan of supporting and sheltering extremist groups operating across borders. India has long argued that meaningful improvement in bilateral relations is not possible unless Islamabad takes credible action against terrorist infrastructure.
The latest exchange is far from the first time Jaishankar has responded strongly to questions from Pakistani journalists on the subject. In previous international forums, he has rejected attempts to equate terrorism concerns across countries and has emphasised that the global community recognises the dangers posed by cross-border terror networks.
The remarks also come amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions over security issues, regional stability, and repeated diplomatic disagreements at international platforms. Indian officials continue to stress that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and must be addressed without double standards.
Observers noted that Jaishankar’s response reflected India’s increasingly assertive diplomatic posture on the issue. With terrorism remaining a key foreign-policy concern for New Delhi, the minister’s comments are likely to resonate strongly in both domestic and international discussions surrounding regional security and counterterrorism efforts.