NEW YORK — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivered a sharp response to an Indian journalist on Friday, just moments before addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
As he arrived at the UN headquarters, an Indian reporter confronted him with a question about “cross-border terrorism” and when Pakistan would end it. Sharif, visibly firm, replied:
“We [Pakistan] are defeating you [India] in cross-border terrorism.”
The exchange set the tone for the premier’s UNGA address, where he strongly condemned terrorism while accusing India of aggression earlier this year.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have remained high since May, when India launched strikes on Pakistani territory following the Pahalgam terrorist attack—a charge Islamabad has repeatedly rejected. The clashes escalated into open conflict, with both sides trading fire across the eastern border.
Sharif recalled the episode in his UNGA speech, stating:
“In May, my country confronted unprovoked aggression from our eastern front. The enemy came shrouded in arrogance; we sent them back in humiliation, delivering a bloody nose.”
The rivalry has spilled over beyond politics. During the recent Asia Cup, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav twice refused to shake hands with Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha—another sign of rising hostility.
At the UNGA, however, Sharif struck a broader tone, stressing Pakistan’s long-standing role in the global fight against terrorism:
“Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. For more than two decades, we have stood at the front line of global counter-terrorism efforts.”
Speaking to reporters afterward, the prime minister credited former U.S. President Donald Trump with helping de-escalate hostilities between Pakistan and India earlier this year. He described his meeting with Trump as “cordial” and expressed gratitude for Washington’s efforts to restore regional peace.
Reiterating his earlier remarks, Sharif told journalists that Pakistan was actively countering what he described as India’s campaign of cross-border terrorism.
