“Pakistan spreads lies on the world forum”: Defence expert Anil Gaur backs Jaishankar's response to Pak reporter
Defence expert Anil Gaur supports EAM Jaishankar's firm response to a Pakistani reporter's question on terrorism at the UN General Assembly.
Defence expert and retired Captain Anil Gaur has come out in strong support of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar following the Minister's sharp retort to a Pakistani journalist. The confrontation occurred during a high-level briefing in New York, where a reporter from Pakistan attempted to heckle the Indian Minister with a question regarding terrorism.
Speaking to ANI, Gaur criticized the pattern of misinformation coming from Islamabad, stating that Pakistan frequently "spreads lies on the world forum." He highlighted the hypocrisy of the Pakistani media, noting that their questions often ignore the reality of their own country's leadership and actions.
The Hypocrisy of the Question
Gaur pointed out a significant contradiction in the Pakistani stance. He referenced Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's own admission at the United Nations, where it was acknowledged that the country needed to rein in terrorists to prevent global spread.
"Their journalists have the audacity to ask our foreign minister the question of when we are reining in our terrorists," Gaur remarked. He further questioned the conduct of Pakistani officials, noting that when India has conducted strikes on terrorist camps, senior army officers and politicians have been seen attending the funerals and prayer ceremonies of the killed terrorists.
The retired Captain challenged the Pakistani media to hold their own leaders accountable, asking why they do not question their own Prime Minister or Field Marshal Munir about the statements made on the UN floor.
Jaishankar's Firm Stand
The incident unfolded during a press conference in New York, where Jaishankar was addressing the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers alongside the Foreign Affairs Minister of Liberia. Despite the event being a remarks-only briefing, a Pakistani reporter interrupted towards the end with what was described as a nonsensical question.
Jaishankar did not mince words, responding firmly: "A terrorist country is asking me that question."
Gaur backed this stance entirely, stating, "Our foreign minister did the right thing by stating that a terrorist state does not have any right to ask such questions of us."
India's Response at the UN
The tension at the UN General Assembly is not limited to verbal exchanges. India has been actively utilizing its right of reply to counter the narratives pushed by Islamabad. Petal Gahlot, First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN, recently warned that cross-border terrorism by Pakistan will lead to consequences, while rejecting Islamabad's remarks regarding Jammu and Kashmir.
India's position remains consistent: the country demands "credible action" against cross-border terrorism. This follows significant events such as:
- Operation Sindoor: Carried out by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
- The Pahalgam Attack: An incident where 26 civilians lost their lives, leading to international recognition of India's defensive actions.
- Terrorist Designations: The US Administration designated The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT)—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in July 2025.
As the High Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly continues, India remains steadfast in its efforts to expose the links between state actors and terrorist entities on the global stage.