India counters Pakistan at UN General Assembly

At the United Nations General Assembly, Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India, exercised the ‘right of reply’ to counter remarks made by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Gahlot criticized the Pakistani government, referring to it as a ‘Form 47 government’ and alleging that the nation is ruled by its military rather than democratic institutions. She highlighted the hypocrisy of Pakistan’s leadership, noting that while they claim to maintain security, they have a history of involvement with terrorism. She specifically referenced the context of the 9/11 anniversary, noting that Osama bin Laden lived near a major Pakistani military academy.

Furthermore, Gahlot addressed issues of religious intolerance and the treatment of minorities in Pakistan, citing the country’s blasphemy laws. She dismissed the Pakistani representative's comments as hypocritical attempts to mislead the international community regarding human rights and democratic values.