India rips into Pakistan over Pahalgam attack at UN: 'Rogue state destabilising region'

Patel cited a recent television interview in which Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif openly admitted Islamabad’s history of training and funding terrorist groups.

Just a week after the ghastly terror attack in Pahalgam, India once again ripped Pakistan apart at the United Nations (UN), labelling it a "rogue state" fanning global terrorism and destabilising regional peace.

Speaking at the UN, Ambassador Yojna Patel, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative, said the Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists, marked the highest civilian death toll in a terrorist attack on Indian soil since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008.

"The Pahalgam terrorist attack represents the largest number of civilian casualties since the horrific 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008. Having been a victim of cross-border terrorism for decades, India fully understands the long-lasting impact such acts have on victims, their families, and society."

Expressing gratitude for the "strong and unequivocal" support extended by global leaders and governments, Patel stated the international response reinforced the world’s "zero tolerance" for terrorism.

"India deeply appreciates and values the strong, unequivocal support and solidarity extended by leaders and governments across the world in the wake of the recent terrorist attack at Pahalgam, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This is a testimony to the international community's zero tolerance for terrorism", she stated.

She also welcomed the creation of the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN), calling it "a significant step" toward giving victims a structured, safe platform to be heard and supported.

"India believes initiatives like VoTAN are crucial for strengthening the global response to terrorism, ensuring that victims remain at the centre of our collective efforts," she remarked in her speech.

The launch comes exactly a week after the killing of 26 civilians at the Baisaran Valley in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Speaking at the launch of the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network, Patel further took aim at Pakistan, saying: "It is unfortunate that one particular delegation has chosen to misuse and undermine this forum to indulge in propaganda and make baseless allegations against India."

Further taking sharp dig at Islamabad, she remarked, "The whole world has heard Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif admitting and confessing Pakistan's history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations in a recent television interview. This open confession surprises no one and exposes Pakistan as a rogue state fuelling global terrorism and destabilising the region. The world can no longer turn a blind eye."

Patel asserted that terrorism in all its forms must be condemned unequivocally and stressed that the global community must not ignore states that continue to harbour and promote terrorist activities.

Following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, New Delhi has downgraded its diplomatic ties with Pakistan after The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the heinous act.

Meanwhile, during the intervening night of April 28-29, Pakistan once again initiated unprovoked small arms fire along the Line of Control (LoC), targeting areas across the Kupwara and Baramulla districts, as well as the Akhnoor sector. This is the fifth time in a row that the Pakistan army has initiated unprovoked firing along the border.

In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officially assumed charge of the investigation into the April 22 attack on Saturday. Over the past week, security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have conducted a wide-scale terror crackdown, tracking and demolishing terrorist hideouts.