India strongly responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, rejecting his references to Jammu and Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty and warning that continued cross-border terrorism would have “consequences”. Delivering India’s Right of Reply was Petal Gahlot, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

Gahlot has now responded to Sharif at the UN General Assembly for the second consecutive year. Her latest intervention again focused on Pakistan’s record on terrorism, while reaffirming India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir and its right to respond to cross-border attacks.

Who Is Petal Gahlot?

Petal Gahlot is an Indian Foreign Service officer serving as First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. She joined the IFS in 2015 after clearing the civil services examination and has held diplomatic and policy positions in India and abroad.

Before taking up her UN assignment, Gahlot served as Under Secretary in the Europe West Division of the Ministry of External Affairs from 2020 to 2023. She joined India’s Permanent Mission to the UN as First Secretary in July 2023.

Her earlier diplomatic experience has included postings connected with India’s missions in Paris and San Francisco, in addition to her work at the Ministry of External Affairs. Her role at the UN involves representing India on a range of issues before the world body.

Education And Musical Interests

Gahlot studied at St Xavier’s College in Mumbai, where she completed a bachelor’s degree covering Political Science, Sociology and French Literature. She later pursued a master’s degree in Political Science at Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College for Women.

Her interests extend beyond diplomacy. Gahlot is also a guitarist and singer and has shared musical performances on social media. Her rendition of the Italian song “Bella Ciao” has previously attracted attention online.

Her background in international affairs and language studies has accompanied a diplomatic career that has included assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs and India’s overseas missions before her current posting in New York.

What Gahlot Told Pakistan At UNGA

Gahlot’s latest response followed Sharif’s UNGA address, in which the Pakistani prime minister raised the Kashmir issue and the Indus Waters Treaty. Sharif had said that any attempt to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of waters would be treated as an “act of war”.

Responding to Pakistan’s position on terrorism, Gahlot referred to Osama bin Laden and noted that the al-Qaeda founder had lived near Pakistan’s premier military academy.

“Today, the representative of Pakistan went out of his way to praise that very military,” she said.

Gahlot also questioned Pakistan’s claims on democracy and human rights, referring to its 27th Constitutional Amendment and the lifetime legal immunity granted to what she described as the country’s “actual ruler”.

She accused Pakistan of presenting itself as concerned about security while supporting terrorism. “The world knows how minorities are treated in Pakistan,” Gahlot said, adding that “sweet and deceptive words” could not mislead the international community.

India Reiterates Position On Jammu And Kashmir

Sharif’s references to Jammu and Kashmir also drew a direct response from Gahlot. “Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inseparable part of India and will always remain so,” she said.

Turning to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gahlot referred to recent protests in the region and said: “Ask the people of Rawalakot about the killings, violence and denial of basic rights they have endured for years.”

She said the central issue between India and Pakistan remained what she described as Pakistan’s “longstanding policy of cross-border terrorism” and asserted India’s right to defend itself.

“We demonstrated last year that there would be neither a safe haven nor a place to hide for terrorists,” she said. “If terrorism continues from Pakistan’s side, there will be consequences.”

Rejecting Pakistan’s allegations, Gahlot concluded: “Repeating a lie every year does not make it the truth.” She said Pakistan’s “terrorism, deception and double standards” served neither the country nor the wider world.

Gahlot’s 2025 Response To Sharif

Gahlot had delivered another Right of Reply to Sharif’s UNGA address in September 2025. At the time, Sharif had spoken about Operation Sindoor, describing Pakistan as the victim of “unprovoked aggression” from India and crediting then-US President Donald Trump with helping avert a wider conflict.

Gahlot opened India’s response by describing Sharif’s speech as “absurd theatrics” and accusing him of once again “glorifying terrorism”.

“No degree of drama and no level of lies can conceal the facts,” she said.

She referred to Pakistan’s response at the UN Security Council following the Pahalgam terror attack and accused Islamabad of shielding The Resistance Front, or TRF, from responsibility for the attack. She also cited Pakistan’s history of sheltering Osama bin Laden and accused the country of “deploying and exporting terrorism”.

Gahlot also rejected Sharif’s account of the 2025 India-Pakistan military confrontation. She said Pakistan’s military had eventually “pleaded” for a cessation of fighting after Indian strikes damaged Pakistani airbases during Operation Sindoor.

She reiterated India’s position that disputes between the two countries should be addressed bilaterally, rejecting a role for a third country.

Responding to Sharif’s stated desire for peace with India, Gahlot said: “If he is indeed sincere, the pathway is clear. Pakistan must immediately shut down all terrorist camps and hand over to us the terrorists wanted in India.”

Gahlot’s successive appearances at the UN have placed her at the centre of India’s formal responses to Pakistan’s statements at the General Assembly, particularly on terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir and bilateral relations.

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