At the 80th UN General Assembly, India’s stance against Pakistan’s assertions was powerfully articulated. First Secretary Petal Gahlot, representing India, delivered a strong rebuke to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech. Gahlot refuted claims concerning Operation Sindoor, accusing Islamabad of supporting terrorist organizations and spreading false information. Her remarks were notable for their directness and underscored India’s commitment to countering cross-border terrorism.
Petal Gahlot currently serves as the first Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, a position she assumed in 2023. She became Advisor at the United Nations in September 2024. Previously, she was the Undersecretary at the MEA India from June 2020 to July 2023.
She holds a BA in Political Science, Sociology, and French Literature from St. Xavier’s College (2005–2010) and an MA in Political Science from Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College (2010–2012). Furthermore, Gahlot has a Master’s degree in Language Interpretation and Translation from the US’s Middlebury Institute of International Studies (2018–2020). A musician, Gahlot shares her guitar playing and singing on social media.
During her address, Gahlot highlighted the Pakistani military’s plea for a ceasefire during Operation Sindoor. She pointed to the destruction of multiple Pakistani air bases as evidence, noting that images of the damage were publicly available. Gahlot stated that if destroyed infrastructure constituted victory, Pakistan was welcome to it. She emphasized that, as in the past, Pakistan was responsible for terrorist attacks on Indian civilians, and India had the right to defend its people.