India strongly countered Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s claim of “victory” in Operation Sindoor on Saturday (27th September), telling the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that the ground reality was far from what he described.

Exercising India’s right of reply, Petal Gahlot, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, said the images of damaged Pakistani airbases during Operation Sindoor told a very different story. She noted that the destruction of runways and military hangars was proof that Pakistan’s military had, in fact, suffered heavy losses.

All You Should Know About Petal Gahlot

Petal Gahlot has served as First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN since July 2023. Before that, she was an undersecretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, where she worked in the European West Division from 2020 to 2023. During her diplomatic journey, she has also been posted in Paris (at the Indian mission) and in San Francisco (at the consulate).

In terms of education, Gahlot’s path is broad and deep. She studied political science, sociology, and French literature during her undergraduate days at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Later, she obtained a master’s degree in political science and government from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. In addition, she completed a second master’s in language interpretation and translation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, USA.

Beyond diplomacy, Petal Gahlot is known among her followers for her love of music. She often shares videos of herself playing the guitar. Among her more popular clips are ones in which she sings “Bella Ciao” and “Lost On You”—these have drawn wide attention on social media.

India’s Firm Response at the UN

In her right of reply speech at the UN, Gahlot reminded the international community that during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s military had asked for a pause in fighting after suffering damaging strikes on its airbases.

She said: “The intervening event was the destruction caused to multiple Pakistani air bases by Indian forces. The pictures of that damage are, of course, publicly accessible. If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it,” pointing to how the visual evidence told a different story.

She also emphasized that “till 9th May, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India. But on 10th May, its military pleaded with us directly for a cessation to the fighting,” highlighting that this shift in tone from threats to a plea for ceasefire was clear to all. She insisted that the evidence of this reversal was visible and unquestionable.

Further, Gahlot brought attention to the Pahalgam terror attack, accusing Pakistan of targeting innocent civilians. She stated that India had full right to defend itself against those responsible.