ISLAMABAD: An excerpt from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at the United Nations last year has resurfaced on social media ahead of his upcoming address to the UN General Assembly.
That they manufacture terrorists is confirmed https://t.co/V89Sgw1o3H
— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) September 22, 2026
In the widely circulated clip, Sharif is heard telling the 80th UN General Assembly on September 23, 2025: “Had these terrorists not been encountered by us, they would have been roaming on the streets of New York and London and God knows, Far East.”
During his address, Sharif said Pakistan condemned terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations” and claimed that the country had remained at the forefront of the global fight against terrorism for more than two decades. He cited more than 90,000 deaths and economic losses of around $150 billion that Pakistan had suffered during its counterterrorism efforts.
Sharif further argued that terrorism recognised no national boundaries, drawing a comparison between the loss of a life in New York and one in Lahore. He stressed that the threat needed to be addressed through a coordinated global response.
It was in this context that Sharif made his reference to terrorists potentially roaming the streets of New York and London if Pakistan had not confronted them. He subsequently described Pakistan as a “bulwark” against terrorism, portraying its counterterrorism efforts as a contribution to the security of people beyond its own borders.
India presses Pakistan on ‘credible action’
The resurfaced remarks come amid renewed calls from India for Pakistan to take “credible action” against cross-border terrorism, with New Delhi stressing that Islamabad must support its statements with concrete measures.
Responding to remarks by Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir, who said the country’s armed forces remained committed to defeating terrorism, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan’s assurances needed to be backed by action. “Pakistan needs to demonstrate action and firm commitment, and they must take credible action against cross-border terrorism before the world believes what they say they are going to do,” Jaiswal said.
Jaiswal also condemned Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Paktika provinces, stating that the strikes had resulted in the deaths of several civilians.
Sharif has already arrived in New York to attend the 81st UN General Assembly. According to the Pakistani government, his address is expected to focus on regional and global security, terrorism, climate change, development and other international issues.
