India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a fiery speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, branding Pakistan the “epicentre of global terrorism.” His remarks drew strong applause as he highlighted decades of cross-border terror threats faced by India. Referring to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu pilgrims, Jaishankar vowed India will continue to defend its people and bring perpetrators to justice. Condemning Pakistan’s alleged “state policy” of mainstreaming terror, he urged relentless global pressure and stronger UN cooperation to dismantle the international terror ecosystem.
00:00I now give the floor to His Excellency Subrahmanyam Jayshanka, Minister for External Affairs of India.
00:08Madam President, Madam President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Namaskar from the people
00:34of Bharat.
00:36We are gathered here eight decades since the founding of this unique body.
00:45The UN Charter calls on us not just to prevent war, but to build peace.
00:54Not just to defend rights, but to uphold the dignity of every human being.
01:01It challenges us to stand as good neighbors, uniting our strength so that generations to
01:09come inherit a world of justice, of progress, and of lasting freedom.
01:18Madam President, forces unleashed by history since the founding of the UN propelled this body forward.
01:28As decolonization advanced, the world began to return to its natural diversity.
01:36The membership of the United Nations quadrupled and the organization's role and remit grew significantly.
01:46In the era of globalization, its agenda evolved even further.
01:54Development goals took center stage even as climate change emerged as a shared priority.
02:02Trade acquired greater prominence, while food and health access were recognized as essential to global well-being.
02:14Where security was concerned, the UN undertook peacekeeping operations and promoted disarmament discussions.
02:24As a result, the UN became a natural platform to debate key global issues.
02:34Madam President, we must ask ourselves today, how has the UN lived up to expectations?
02:44And just look at the state of the world.
02:47There are two significant conflicts underway, one in Ukraine and the other in the Middle East, West Asia.
02:56Innumerable other hotspots don't even make the news.
03:03The slow progress of the SDG Agenda 2030 presents a sorry picture.
03:10On climate change, the reality is of recirculated commitments and creative accounting.
03:17If climate action itself is questioned, what hope is there for climate justice?
03:25When a once-in-a-century pandemic hits us, we saw open discrimination in access to vaccines and to travel.
03:36Energy and food security have been the first casualties of conflict and disruption, especially since 2022.
03:47Better-off societies insulated themselves by having the first call.
03:54The resource-stressed ones scrambled to survive, only to hear sanctimonious lectures thereafter.
04:03When it came to trade, non-market practices gained rules and regimes.
04:10The resulting concentration exposed the world to leveraging.
04:16On top of that, we now see tariff volatility and uncertain market access.
04:22As a result, de-risking is a growing compulsion, whether from limited sources of supply or over-dependence on a particular market.
04:37Economic concerns have other dimensions as well.
04:42Heightened technology control is one.
04:45The grip on supply chains and critical minerals is another.
04:50The shaping of connectivity is no less sensitive.
04:54Protection of key sea lanes has become a challenge.
04:59Restricting the evolution of a global workplace is an issue.
05:04Each makes a compelling case for more international cooperation, not less.
05:13But are we really headed in that direction?
05:17And where has the UN actually made a difference?
05:22Madam President, as members of the UN, we meet here as sovereign equals.
05:30That is not a formalism, but a recognition of the inherent diversity of our world.
05:38Understandably, we have different history, traditions, heritage, and culture.
05:47For them to coexist, for them to enrich each other, it is imperative that we foster understanding and respect.
05:58This will only happen when we resist political interference and economic pressures,
06:05when narratives are free of prejudice, when double standards are abjured, and when pluralism is truly appreciated.
06:15Madam President, Excellencies, while asserting our rights, we must also firmly face up to threats.
06:24Countering terrorism is a particular priority because it synthesizes bigotry, violence,
06:34violence, intolerance, and fear.
06:38India has confronted this challenge since independence, having a neighbor that is an epicenter of global terrorism.
06:49For decades now, major international terrorist attacks are traced back to that one country.
07:01UN's designated lists of terrorists are replete with its nationals.
07:07The most recent example of cross-border barbarism was the murder of innocent tourists in Pahlkam in April this year.
07:18India exercised its right to defend its people against terrorism and brought its organizers and perpetrators to justice.
07:30Because terrorism is a shared threat, Madam President, it is essential that there is much deeper international cooperation.
07:43When nations openly declare terrorism as state policy, when terror hubs operate on an industrial scale, when terrorists are publicly glorified, then such actions must be unequivocally condemned.
08:00The financing of terrorism must be choked, even as prominent terrorists are sanctioned.
08:08Relentless pressure must be applied on the entire terrorism ecosystem.
08:15Those who condone nations that sponsor terror will find that it comes back to bite them.
08:24Madam President, an objective report card will show that the UN is in a state of crisis.
08:34When peace is under threat from conflicts, when development is derailed by lack of resources, when human rights are violated by terrorism, the UN remains gridlocked.
08:49As its ability to forge common ground diminishes, belief in multilateralism also recedes.
08:59Central to the erosion of the UN's credibility has been resistance to reform.
09:06Most members strongly desire change, but the process is being made an obstacle to the outcome.
09:16It is imperative that we see through this cynicism and purposefully address the reform agenda.
09:23The historical injustice done to Africa should be redressed.
09:29Both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council must be expanded.
09:36A reformed Council must be truly representative.
09:41And India stands ready to assume greater responsibilities.
09:48Madam President, today the predicament of the Global South is especially acute.
09:57Bharat, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, believes that it has both a duty to contribute and an obligation to motivate.
10:09That is why we have undertaken more than 600 major development projects in 78 countries, as well as innumerable community-based initiatives.
10:20They range from large infrastructure to small livelihoods, from capacity building to people's welfare, from concrete assets to education and training.
10:33Turbulent times require that we step forward during moments of crisis.
10:39India has been forthcoming in that regard, especially in its immediate vicinity.
10:45Whether it is finance, food, fertilizer or fuel, we have responded to the urgent requirements of our neighbours.
10:55Madam President, climate events and conflicts have created a demand for HADR assistance.
11:04Reflecting our growing capabilities, Bharat has endeavored to be a first responder.
11:11Be it essential medicines or relief supplies, the operations of a field hospital or limb treatment camps, these efforts covered 19 nations last year.
11:25The people of Afghanistan and those of Myanmar saw India extend its hand during recent earthquakes.
11:35Our efforts at ensuring safe commerce, combating piracy and preventing attacks on shipping in the Northern Arabian Sea, also by mention.
11:47And the Indian tradition of UN peacekeeping operations continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Western Sahara, Central African Republic, Golan Heights, Cyprus, Lebanon, Abbey, South Sudan and Somalia.
12:06To put it clearly, our soldiers ensure peacekeeping, our sailors protect maritime shipping, our security counters terrorism,
12:17our doctors and teachers facilitate human development the world over, our industry produces affordable products,
12:25our techies promote digitization and our training facilities are open to the world.
12:32These remain the core of our foreign policy.
12:37Madam President, each one of us has the opportunity of contributing to peace and prosperity.
12:46In the case of conflicts, especially Ukraine and Gaza, even those not directly involved have felt its impact.
12:55Nations who can engage all sides must step up in the search for solutions.
13:02India calls for an end to hostilities and will support any initiative that will help restore peace.
13:12The last decade in Bharat has also seen transformative changes due to the vision of Prime Minister Modi.
13:20Our digital public infrastructure has redefined governance and enabled delivery of public services on an unprecedented scale.
13:31Our startup ecosystem, innovation culture and microfinance are changing the face of society.
13:39Our rapidly growing infrastructure facilitates both ease of doing business and ease of living for citizens.
13:50India remains committed to sharing its experiences and tools with others on their journey of development.
14:00Artificial intelligence as a horizontal and cross-cutting technology has a particular promise for development.
14:09India's approach is to harness it responsibly for human welfare.
14:14Inclusion and impact will be the watchwords for the summit that India will host in 2026.
14:23China, five years after a bilateral Brazilian countries,
14:25India looks to be members of innovating andero her abroad,
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14:52production or in digital applications. Make, innovate and design in India also
14:59benefit the world. Two, Atmaraksha or securing oneself. We remain determined to
15:08protect our people and secure their interests at home and abroad. That means
15:14zero tolerance for terrorism, robust defense of our borders, forging
15:20partnerships beyond and assisting our community abroad. And three, Atma Vishwas
15:28or self-confidence. As the most populous nation, as a civilizational state, as a
15:36rapidly growing major economy, we are confident about who we are and what we
15:44will be. Bharat will always maintain its freedom of choice and will always be a
15:52voice of the Global South. Madam President, these are certainly challenging times for
16:01the international community. Many of our assumptions and expectations no longer
16:07hold. In such circumstances, it is imperative to stay strong, to hold firm and to
16:17deepen friendships. International cooperation must prevail because islands of
16:24prosperity cannot flourish in an ocean of turbulence. A world order requires common
16:32purpose as it does empathy for others. That is where we look to the United Nations.
16:41Madam President, every member who can make this world a better place must have the
16:48opportunity to do their utmost. And for that to happen, reformed multilateralism is the
16:55obvious way. The ninth decade of the UN must be one of leadership and hope. Bharat will do its fair
17:05and more. I thank you.
17:12I thank the Minister for External Affairs of India.
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