ISLAMABAD: Pakistan hit back at India over its terrorism allegations at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with Second Secretary Muhammad Rashid calling New Delhi not just a “serial perpetrator of terrorism, but also a regional bully.”

Exercising its right of reply, Pakistan rejected Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s remarks and accused New Delhi of destabilizing the region.

“This country is not just a serial perpetrator of terrorism, it is a regional bully — a net destabilizer for the entire region,” said Rashid, Pakistan’s second secretary to the UN. He added that Pakistan had sacrificed over 90,000 lives in fighting terrorism and remained committed to global counter-terrorism efforts.

Rashid alleged that India’s intelligence networks have been implicated in supporting armed groups beyond its borders. “Undermining regional stability and violating international law is a habit for India,” he said.

The Pakistani diplomat condemned India for mocking Pakistan’s name during its intervention. “Such language reflects neither maturity nor responsibility. By resorting to cheap slurs, India diminishes its own credibility on the world stage,” he said.

"We are one of the strongest pillars in leading global efforts for combating terrorism, as also highlighted by my prime minister at this forum," he added.

Pakistan and India engaged in a four-day fight — their worst in decades — after New Delhi’s unprovoked assault on Islamabad following a terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India blames Pakistan for the attack, a charge that Islamabad has vehemently denied.

Rashid said that India itself has been implicated in supporting and sponsoring terrorism beyond its borders. "Credible reports are pointing to networks run by Indian intelligence agencies to destabilise its neighboring countries."

Pakistan's state counsellor slams India

Rashid's comments come hours after Pakistan's state counsellor Saima Saleem condemned India’s “state-sponsored terrorism as policy at home and abroad.” She asserted that Indian hypocrisy is now fully exposed and that it can no longer hide its aiding, abetting, and financing of terrorism in Pakistan.

“[Through] its covert terrorist networks across the region, and its reign of terror in occupied Kashmir… Indian-sponsored terrorism has not just claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians in Pakistan, it has turned places of worship, learning, and livelihood into sites of carnage”, said Saleem.

The statement highlighted the sacrifices by Pakistan in the fight against global terrorism and acknowledged the recognition Islamabad has received from the international community.

Referring to the Pahalgam attack in April this year, Saleem reaffirmed Pakistan’s condemnation of the incident and called for a credible, impartial investigation into the incident.

The statement recalled the aggression played by India in response to the incident despite Pakistan’s call for restraint, dialogue and diplomacy, a stance echoed by the international community, resulting in the killing of innocent lives, including women and children, in Pakistan.

Saleem described India’s “reckless brinkmanship and provocative posturing” as exposing its “hegemonic ambitions”.

The statement criticized the violation of the Indus Water Treaty by holding it in abeyance and weaponizing the water, which serves as a lifeline for 240 million people, branding India a “blatant violator of international law”, said the statement.

It further highlighted the persecution of minorities as a "state policy of RSS-BJP government in India" and Islamophobia, which has been institutionalized in law by India, said the statement.

Pakistan has consistently highlighted India’s state-sponsored terror networks on international forums, exposing its destabilizing role in the country and region.

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Pakistan slams India as ‘serial perpetrator of terrorism’ in UN spat