Meet Petal Gahlot, Indian Diplomat Who Delivered Strong Rebuttal to Pakistan PM at UN
NEW DELHI: Petal Gahlot, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, has come into the spotlight after delivering a sharp counter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Exercising India’s right of reply, Gahlot accused Sharif of once again glorifying terrorism while dismantling his claims on Operation Sindoor and regional tensions.
Who is Petal Gahlot?
Gahlot is a seasoned diplomat with strong expertise in political science, international relations, and translation. She joined India’s Permanent Mission to the UN as First Secretary in July 2023 and was appointed Advisor at the UN in September 2024.
Before her current role, she worked as Undersecretary in the Ministry of External Affairs’ European West Division between June 2020 and July 2023, while also serving at India’s diplomatic missions in Paris and San Francisco, as reported by She The People.
Beyond diplomacy, Gahlot is also known for her musical talent. She frequently shares videos of herself performing on the guitar, with renditions of songs such as “Bella Ciao,” “Lost On You,” and “Kabira” drawing wide appreciation online.
Her academic background covers a broad spectrum. Gahlot graduated in Political Science, Sociology, and French Literature from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai (2005-2010), followed by a Master’s in Political Science at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi (2010-2012). She later earned a Master’s in Language Interpretation and Translation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Monterey, USA (2018-2020).
Gahlot’s Sharp Response at UNGA
Replying to the Pakistan Prime Minister, Gahlot strongly criticized Islamabad for sheltering terrorists and distorting facts to mask its failures. Referring to Operation Sindoor, she reminded the assembly that Pakistan’s airbases were destroyed, and its military “pleaded” with India to call off the offensive.
“If destroyed runways and burnt hangars look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it,” she reportedly remarked.
She further highlighted Pakistan’s attempt at the UN Security Council earlier this year to protect The Resistance Front (TRF), a group involved in the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 lives. Gahlot reiterated India’s long-standing stance that Pakistan has been exporting terrorism, citing the shelter given to Osama bin Laden for years while pretending to back the fight against terror.
Emphasizing that India remains firm on solving all bilateral issues directly with Pakistan, Gahlot’s message was clear: dialogue can only begin if Islamabad dismantles terror camps and hands over wanted terrorists instead of glorifying extremism.