Published: 11:21 AM, 18 September 2026
India Urges UN Security Council to Act on Terrorist Hideouts in Pakistan
Several Al Qaeda leaders including Osama Bin Laden spent years after years in their dens inside Pakistan territory. -NDTV
India has once again shredded Pakistan for supporting terror as a state policy and reminded the international community that many of the world's most wanted terrorists were eventually found not in "some ungoverned frontier" but ordinary places right in the middle of civilian dwellings, reports NDTV.
Alluding to Pakistan, India told the UN Security Council (UNSC) that al-Qaeda terrorists behind the 9/11 attacks including Osama bin Laden, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Binalshibh, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi were found settled in urban locations and not some remote hideouts.
"The leaders of al Qaeda who conceived and directed these 9/11 attacks did not escape justice in the wilderness of some ungoverned frontier. Osama bin Laden, who ordered and financed the plot, was tracked down and killed in a fortified compound within a settled, guarded community under Operation Neptune Spear," India said, referring to the US raid in Pakistan's Abbottabad that killed bin Laden in May 2011.
A big problem is that the same permissive environment now shelters the terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), India's permanent representative to the UNSC Harish Parvathaneni said.
These two terror groups were among the targets of India's Operation Sindoor. Their infrastructure such as training camps and terror launchpads deep inside Pakistan was levelled by Indian cruise missiles in May 2025.
Parvathaneni pointed out that these terror groups continue to dodge the UNSC's sanctions regime by taking on new identities. The only way to stop this evil is for the international community to ensure no such sanctuary exists anywhere, he said.
"The same permissive environment that sheltered the architects of 9/11 has, in the years since, continued to provide space, support, and impunity to affiliates of Al Qaeda such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed and their like, acquiring different identities to escape this Council's sanctions framework and whose leadership and terror training infrastructure have been shielded from consequence," he said.
"The international community must join hands to address the continuity of such sanctuary in order to ensure that more such individuals are not thrust upon any country or its citizens and no one loses family and loved ones," the Indian representative to the UNSC added.
India has urged the United Nations to take stronger action against terrorist organizations and their alleged hideouts and support networks in Pakistan. New Delhi says that the presence of terrorist groups in the region poses a serious threat to peace.
security, and stability in South Asia. Pakistan, however, has rejected India's allegations and has accused India of supporting groups hostile to Pakistan.
India has repeatedly raised the issue of terrorism at international forums. Indian officials have called for decisive action against organizations involved in terrorism, recruitment, training, financing, and cross-border violence. New Delhi has maintained that no country should allow its territory to be used as a base for terrorist activities against another nation.
The issue has become particularly sensitive because of repeated tensions between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir. India has blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for several attacks in the region and has demanded that those responsible be brought to justice. Following major terrorist incidents, India has called on the international community to identify the organizations and individuals involved and take appropriate action against them.
India has also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in fighting terrorism. According to New Delhi, terrorist groups often operate through networks that extend across national borders. These networks can raise funds, recruit members, obtain weapons, and spread extremist propaganda. India believes that international institutions should work together to disrupt such activities.
Pakistan has strongly denied accusations that it provides support or safe havens to terrorist organizations targeting India. Pakistani authorities have argued that they themselves have suffered greatly from terrorism and have taken measures against militant groups operating within the country. Islamabad has also made allegations against India, creating a continuing diplomatic dispute between the two neighboring countries.
The United Nations faces a difficult task in dealing with these competing claims. Any international action requires credible evidence, careful investigation, and compliance with international law. At the same time, terrorist attacks against civilians cannot be ignored, regardless of where they occur or who carries them out.
The issue is important for the entire South Asian region. India and Pakistan are two major countries with large populations and significant economic and military capabilities. Prolonged tensions between them can affect regional trade, investment, security, and diplomatic relations. Countries such as Bangladesh have a strong interest in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Observers believe that stronger international cooperation, effective investigations, and diplomatic engagement are necessary to address terrorism. The United Nations can play an important role by encouraging countries to share information, prevent terrorist financing, and ensure accountability for those responsible for violent attacks.
India's appeal to the United Nations reflects its broader demand for international action against terrorism and alleged terrorist safe havens. At the same time, resolving the wider India-Pakistan dispute will require sustained diplomacy and a commitment to peaceful dialogue. A balanced international approach that addresses terrorism while encouraging regional cooperation could contribute to greater stability in South Asia.
