Deb’s remarks came as the OIC, represented by Saudi Arabia, had released a statement at the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee that praised Pakistan’s ‘military escalation in Southeast Asia’ while condemning ‘unjustified strikes’ in Pakistan, a move that left India’s counter‑terror operations unmentioned.
The statement, delivered by Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on behalf of the OIC, cited UN Security Council resolutions and criticized Pakistan’s occupation of Kashmir, but made no reference to India’s actions against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan‑Occupied Kashmir.
India’s anger was sparked by the April 22, 2024 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, most of them tourists, an assault that the Resistance Front initially claimed before later withdrawing its claim.
In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor a month later, targeting terrorist networks in Pakistan and PoK, a move that has been described as the country’s most aggressive counter‑terror effort in recent years.
Deb warned that India would take action against those who facilitate terrorism, adding that the country would pursue a UN review of the OIC’s stance and could bring the issue to the Security Council for further deliberation.
India is expected to file a formal complaint with the UN Human Rights Council in the coming weeks and will seek a joint statement at the next UNGA session to counter the OIC’s narrative.