Jaishankar Condemns Gulf Shipping Attacks, Slams Pakistan at UN

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the UN General Assembly on Saturday, describing the targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers in the Gulf as "simply unacceptable." He cited recent attacks on the MV Cape Dao in the Gulf of Oman and the El Gaia in the Strait of Hormuz, which killed Indian crew members, and urged all parties to exercise restraint and ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy and commerce.

On the eve of his speech, Jaishankar and Liberia's Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti launched the "Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers," a coalition of 25 nations aimed at rallying global opinion against attacks on maritime crews and upholding international law.

“Arguments by the 'serial practitioner of terrorism' to normalise the scourge and claim immunity from its consequences will not stand.”

Jaishankar delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Friday address, labelling Pakistan a "serial practitioner of terrorism" without naming it directly. He asserted that arguments to normalize terrorism and claim immunity from consequences "will not stand" and vowed India would exercise its right to self-defense.

The minister warned that state-sponsored, cross-border terrorism constitutes a direct affront to the global order and called for a zero-tolerance approach, specifically targeting terror financing. He also expressed deep concern over continuing hostilities in the Gulf and described the situation in Ukraine as "equally troubling."

Regional leaders echoed India's maritime security concerns. Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi stated recent conflict had paralyzed navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, affecting energy security and price stability. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan linked Gulf stability directly to global energy security, while Bahrain's Abdullatif Al Zayani noted disruptions affect families far beyond coastal states.