Attacks on commercial shipping in Gulf, Red Sea simply indefensible: Jaishankar as India and Liberia announce ‘group of friends’

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Weather News September 25, 2026 e-Paper

Updated – September 25, 2026 09:09 pm IST – United Nations

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar speaks during a panel discussion titled 'Ruptures & Ramparts: Building Bridges for a Changing World', in New York.
| Photo Credit: PTI

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday (September 25, 2026) listed recent incidents of attacks against seafarers and ships, saying “regrettably” these are no longer exceptional occurrences. His remarks came as India and Liberia announced establishing a “group of friends” on the safety and security of shipping and seafarers, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.

The initiative was launched at the ministerial-level meeting of the group of ‘Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers’. “India, as a major source of seafarers, and Liberia, as the largest shipping registry, have come together to highlight the safety and security of shipping and seafarers,” Mr. Jaishankar said at the meeting.

“In the last few months, commercial shipping and marinas have been subjected to repeated attacks in the Gulf, the Red Sea, and its vicinity….These actions that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible,” he added.

Amid ongoing global conflicts, merchant shipping and seafarers are facing increased risks in various regions, including the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, Black Sea, and Somalia.

A significant number of Indian seafarers serve onboard both Indian-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels operating in or transiting through these regions, exposing them to associated maritime security risks

Mr. Jaishankar also sharply responded to a Pakistani journalist who asked him a question related to terrorism.

"A terrorist country is asking me that question. Come on,” he said in a strong response to the question by the Pakistani journalist at the UN

After India and Liberia’s remarks at the UN headquarters, the Pakistani journalist stood up and shouted a question to Mr. Jaishankar, “When will your government stop sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan?”

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, told the Pakistani journalist: “You have heard your reply. You have heard your response, loud and clear.”

On Thursday (September 24, 2026), an Indian journalist had asked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as he entered the UN building, "When will you stop harbouring terrorists?"

Published – September 25, 2026 08:56 pm IST

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Fonte: The Hindu – International