Gahlot specifically mentioned Pakistan’s protection of The Resistance Front, the group behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, and reminded the world that Pakistan had sheltered al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
India strongly rejected claims made by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about Operation Sindoor and the recent tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries. Speaking at the UN, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission accused Pakistan of protecting terrorist groups and spreading false information to make a defeat look like a victory. During her Right of Reply, she said that Pakistan’s military had actually asked India to stop hostilities after its airbases were badly damaged during Operation Sindoor. “If destroyed runways and burnt hangars seem like victory, as the Prime Minister claims, Pakistan is welcome to think so,” she said.
She also criticized Pakistan for supporting terrorism and called its actions “absurd theatrics.” Gahlot specifically mentioned Pakistan’s protection of The Resistance Front, the group behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, and reminded the world that Pakistan had sheltered al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, even while claiming to fight terrorism.
“No amount of drama or lies can hide the truth. This is the same Pakistan which, on April 25, 2025, at the UN Security Council, tried to shield ‘The Resistance Front’ from being held accountable for the brutal attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir,” she added.
Who is Petal Gahlot?
Petal Gahlot, born in New Delhi, is a well-known Indian diplomat. She studied political science at St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai and earned her master’s degree at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. She also completed a master’s in language interpretation and translation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, USA.
Gahlot joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 2015 and has built a strong reputation as a confident and articulate representative of India internationally. Over the last decade, she has handled many important assignments. From 2020 to 2023, she served as Under Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, working in the European West Division, and has also served at Indian missions in Paris and San Francisco. She is now representing India at the United Nations.
Outside her diplomatic work, Gahlot has a creative side. She enjoys playing the guitar and singing, often sharing her love for music with friends and colleagues.
