Pakistan Branded 'State Sponsor of Terror' at UN

During a United Nations Human Rights Council session on September 10, 2025, Pakistan faced sharp criticism when Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, labeled it "another state sponsor of terror." The accusation came amid a discussion on recent Israeli strikes targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, which Pakistan had condemned as "unlawful and heinous." Neuer’s remarks, delivered with only four seconds remaining after a Pakistani interruption, left the delegation visibly stunned and underscored ongoing tensions over terrorism allegations.

Neuer’s speech primarily targeted Qatar for hosting Hamas officials, accusing the Gulf nation of being a "state sponsor of terror" and questioning its role as a mediator in peace talks while allegedly supporting terrorist activities. He criticized Qatar’s Al Jazeera network for serving as a "propaganda arm" for Hamas and challenged its backing of Hamas’ 2007 Gaza takeover.

Turning to Pakistan, Neuer referenced the 2011 U.S. operation that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, contrasting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ condemnation of Israel’s Qatar strikes with his earlier praise for "justice" in bin Laden’s case.

Pakistan’s delegate interrupted Neuer, rejecting the accusations as "unfounded" and urging respect for UN Charter principles. However, the UNHRC chair granted Neuer four seconds to conclude, during which he reiterated, "Mr. President, Pakistan is another state sponsor of terror."

The Israeli strikes, which killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer, have fueled international debate, with Pakistan’s support for Qatar drawing scrutiny. This incident marks another instance of Pakistan facing global criticism for its alleged ties to terrorism, echoing past rebukes at the UN Security Council.

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