United Nations, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India has criticised Pakistan at the UN Security Council over what it described as the permissive environment that enabled senior al-Qaida leaders linked to the September 11, 2001, terror attacks to operate from Pakistani territory.
Speaking at a Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, India’s Permanent Representative P. Harish recalled the Council’s recent visit to the September 11 memorial and said the memory of the victims should strengthen global efforts against terrorists as well as those who “aid, abet, finance and support” their crimes.
Harish did not name Pakistan directly in that part of his remarks but cited several senior al-Qaida figures associated with the 9/11 attacks who were subsequently found in Pakistan. He said the leaders responsible for planning and directing the attacks were not hiding in remote caves or ungoverned frontier areas.
India’s envoy also alleged that the same permissive environment had continued to provide space and support to al-Qaida affiliates, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). He said these groups continued to operate under different identities to evade UN sanctions and that their training infrastructure remained active.
Harish specifically referred to Osama bin Laden, who was killed in Abbottabad in 2011, as well as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Binalshibh, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi, who were captured at different locations in Pakistan between 2002 and 2003.
The Indian envoy said the examples demonstrated the need for the international community to act against terrorist safe havens and prevent such networks from threatening other countries and civilians.
He also linked the discussion to terrorism faced by India, referring to the continued activities of Pakistan-based groups and calling for stronger international action against their infrastructure.
“Draining this swamp that provided an enabling environment for such monsters of humankind to prosper is important,” Harish said, urging sustained international efforts against terrorist sanctuaries.
The September 11 attacks killed nearly 3,000 people after four passenger planes were hijacked. Two were crashed into New York’s World Trade Center, another struck the Pentagon, while a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers.
India’s remarks came as the Security Council continued its deliberations on the situation in Afghanistan and the wider threat posed by terrorist networks operating from the region.
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