United Nations, October 7, 2026: India has delivered a strong response at the United Nations over cross-border terrorism and criticism of its counter-terrorism actions, with BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb asserting New Delhi's right to protect its citizens from attacks originating across the border.
Speaking during the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee session on measures to eliminate international terrorism, Deb also criticised the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's remarks concerning Jammu and Kashmir and India's actions against terrorist infrastructure.
India rejects OIC criticism
Deb responded to comments made on behalf of the OIC, arguing that the organisation had failed to distinguish between those affected by terrorism and those responsible for it.
The OIC had raised concerns about India's military actions in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir without directly naming India. In response, Deb defended New Delhi's position that it has the right to take measures against terrorist threats directed at its territory and citizens.
India also challenged the OIC's references to Jammu and Kashmir and urged the grouping to pay attention to developments in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Pahalgam attack cited at the UN
The April 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack was a central part of India's argument. The attack killed 26 civilians and subsequently became a major point of contention between India and Pakistan.
Deb described the incident as an example of the continuing threat posed by cross-border terrorism and argued that responsibility should extend beyond those who physically carry out attacks.
India's position at the UN was that perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorism should all face accountability.
New Delhi renews demand for global anti-terror convention
Alongside its criticism of cross-border terrorism, India renewed its call for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
India originally proposed the convention in 1996, but negotiations have remained unresolved for decades. New Delhi argues that a comprehensive international legal framework would strengthen efforts to hold terrorist organisations and their supporters accountable.
The issue has remained difficult at the international level because countries have disagreed over several aspects of the proposed convention, including questions surrounding the definition of terrorism.
India stresses that civilians must remain protected
Deb told the UN committee that terrorism should not be divided into different categories depending on who carries it out or the political circumstances surrounding an attack.
He maintained that attacks deliberately targeting civilians cannot be justified and described terrorism as a serious threat to international peace, security, development and human rights.
India also highlighted concerns over terrorist organisations increasingly exploiting emerging technologies. According to the Indian position presented at the committee, such technologies can be misused for recruitment, radicalisation, propaganda, operational planning and terrorist financing.
India outlines broader counter-terrorism priorities
The Indian intervention also focused on the need to disrupt terrorist financing and dismantle the infrastructure that enables extremist organisations to operate.
Other priorities highlighted by India included strengthening national counter-terrorism capabilities, addressing extremist ideology and keeping victims at the centre of international efforts.
The discussion at the UN comes amid continuing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and India's subsequent military response against what New Delhi described as terrorist infrastructure.
A sharper diplomatic message
India's latest intervention combines two strands of its international counter-terrorism strategy: defending its right to respond to attacks and seeking stronger international legal mechanisms against terrorism.
By bringing the Pahalgam attack and the long-pending CCIT negotiations into the same UN discussion, New Delhi is seeking to frame cross-border terrorism as both a security challenge and an issue requiring a stronger international legal response.
