‘'If Burnt-Out Hangars Look Like Victory…’': Petal Gahlot’s Sharp Reply To Shehbaz Sharif At UNGA
India strongly responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Friday, with Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot rejecting Pakistan’s claims on Jammu and Kashmir, the 2025 India-Pakistan military confrontation and the Indus Waters Treaty.
Exercising India’s Right of Reply, Gahlot, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, accused Pakistan of repeating what she described as false narratives and criticised its record on terrorism, democracy and minority rights.
Her remarks came after Sharif raised the Kashmir issue and spoke about the military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025.
Responding to Sharif’s account of the May confrontation, Gahlot challenged Pakistan’s portrayal of the events as a victory.
Referring to damage caused to military infrastructure, she said, “If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it.”
India launched Operation Sindoor in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack, which led to a four-day military confrontation between the two countries before a ceasefire.
Gahlot also addressed Pakistan’s references to Jammu and Kashmir.
She reiterated India’s position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and turned attention towards Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, raising allegations of violence, arbitrary killings and denial of basic rights there.
Terrorism was another major part of India’s response.
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Gahlot pointed to Pakistan’s history of alleged links to and sheltering of terrorist groups and referred to Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks, who was found living in Abbottabad, near the Pakistani military’s premier academy. Gahlot invoked the reference while questioning Pakistan’s claims on terrorism and security.
She also criticised Pakistan’s remarks on democracy and human rights, describing them as “hypocritical homilies”.
Gahlot said Pakistan was a “regime of the army, by the army, and for the army”, arguing that the country’s political and military establishment should be considered when assessing its statements on democratic values.
She further warned that India would continue to exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism. “Terrorism by Pakistan will have consequences,” she said, while accusing Islamabad of pursuing a long-standing policy of cross-border terrorism.
She added that repeating claims at international forums would not make them true.
The Indian response came shortly after Sharif used his UNGA address to raise the Kashmir dispute and discuss the May 2025 confrontation. Sharif also credited US President Donald Trump with what he described as a “timely intervention” during the conflict.
The Indus Waters Treaty was another point of contention. During his UNGA speech, Sharif warned that any attempt by India to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of the Indus river waters would be treated as an “act of war”.
India, meanwhile, maintained its long-standing position that outstanding issues with Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally and rejected the idea of third-party involvement.
(With inputs from agencies)
