Pakistan Prime Minister evades reporter questions on Hafiz Saeed at UN
During the UN General Assembly, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declined to answer reporters’ queries about Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed.
At the 81st UN General Assembly, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was confronted by journalists asking when his government would cease sheltering terrorists, specifically referring to Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed. Sharif offered no response both upon entering and exiting the UN building. Hafiz Saeed is designated a terrorist under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and is an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as well as in the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror incident, where the National Investigation Agency named him as Accused No. 8.
India’s delegate Kshitij Tyagi seized the UN Human Rights Council session to accuse Pakistan of prioritising territorial claims and cross-border terrorism over development, also alleging repression in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The exchange highlighted ongoing tensions between the two neighbours over terrorism and human-rights concerns.
Why it matters
The refusal underscores strained India-Pakistan relations and raises questions about Pakistan’s stance on designated terrorists.
How this story developed
- Aug 28 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey launch Mecca Defence Alliance, secretariat set in Riyadh
- Sep 3 Greece delivered a diplomatic note to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, instructed by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, contesting Turkish objections to Greek spatial planning frameworks and the creation of two national maritime parks. Athens maintains that international treaties define Aegean sovereignty and that Turkey’s own maritime park declarations overstep its jurisdiction. Both sides exchanged notes reiterating their positions, while Greece pledged to raise any unilateral Turkish actions with European partners. Despite tensions, intelligence chiefs met to keep security cooperation alive, and leaders plan to attend the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 6 Turkey reiterated its long‑standing claims over continental shelves.
- Sep 13 Pakistan reiterated that no immediate military response under the Makkah pact is being discussed.
- Sep 13 The Greek prime minister publicly called for dialogue with Turkey while maintaining a formal protest over Turkey’s maritime park claims.
- Sep 16 Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone aimed at Mecca and accused Iran-backed Houthi rebels of the plot, which the rebels denied.
- Sep 16 Houthis seized coastal towns and islands at the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
- Sep 19 The Saudi Directorate of Civil Defence said the danger has passed in Riyadh and al‑Kharj and urged residents to continue following its instructions and avoid gathering or filming.
- Sep 19 The Houthis announced new missile and drone strikes on Riyadh and Yanbu.
- Sep 25 Foreign minister Hakan Fidan announced willingness to meet the kingdom’s technical military needs.
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