New Delhi: India used its Right of Reply at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly to reject remarks by Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on Jammu & Kashmir and warn that alleged cross-border terrorism by Pakistan “will have consequences”. The first secretary in India’s permanent mission to the UN, Petal Gahlot, said New Delhi would continue to exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism.
Sharif had called for what Pakistan describes as a “just and fair” settlement of the Kashmir dispute, said Kashmir would remain Pakistan’s “jugular vein”, credited the US president, Donald Trump, with intervening during the 2025 India-Pakistan confrontation and warned that interference with Pakistan’s share of Indus waters would be treated as an “act of war”. India has rejected claims of third-party mediation, maintaining that the May 2025 cessation of military action was agreed between the two countries.
‘Form 47 government’
Gahlot opened her rebuttal by invoking the September 11 attacks and Osama bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad. She said, “This afternoon, the general assembly heard some bizarre remarks from the representative of Pakistan. This happens just a fortnight after New York City and the world marked the 25th anniversary of the horrendous 9-11 terrorist attack. This context is important to keep in mind because its mastermind, Osama bin Laden, was living right on the doorstep of the Pakistani army’s premier academy.
This was the very entity which was the subject of such deep genuflection before us today by the representative of Pakistan. But all this is only to be expected from what Pakistanis themselves call a Form 47 government.”
“Form 47 government” is a political label used by opponents of the Sharif government in reference to disputed results from Pakistan’s 2024 general election. Form 47 is the Election Commission of Pakistan document containing the provisional consolidated result for a constituency.
Gahlot then turned to Pakistan’s political system and the military’s role. “We heard some hypocritical homilies about democratic rights and human values from a regime whose capital at this very moment is being fortified against its own people. And that, Mr. President, is happening because this is a regime of the army, by the army, and for the army. Their puppets may come and go, but let us have no illusion about who calls the shots. The reality of Pakistan is expressed in its 27th amendment and the lifelong immunity granted to its real ruler.”
Pakistan’s 27th constitutional amendment restructured the military command, making the army chief concurrently the chief of defence forces and abolishing the office of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The constitutional changes also extended protections to officers holding five-star rank.
Kashmir and Rawalakot
India also rejected Sharif’s references to Jammu & Kashmir. Gahlot said, “References were made to the Indian union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. This is an integral and inalienable part of my country and will always remain so. But if we must talk about Kashmir, let us turn our attention to the Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Ask the people of Rawalakot about the wanton killings, the brutal violence and the denial of basic rights that they have long experienced…”
Amnesty International has separately documented deaths during protests in POK and reported the use of force by authorities during demonstrations.
‘Terrorism by Pakistan will have consequences’
Gahlot made cross-border terrorism the central element of India’s response. She said: “At the heart of the issue is the longstanding practice of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan. We demonstrated last year that terrorists will have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised and continued.
“Terrorism by Pakistan will have consequences…We are confident that this Assembly will recognize Pakistan and its policies for what they really are, not what its representative mendaciously projects it to be.
“Reiterating falsehoods year after year does not make them true. Pakistan’s terrorism, deceit and duplicity will neither benefit it nor the world.”