India has asserted that it would not bow to nuclear blackmail while responding to Pakistan at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly's First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security. Anmol Sher Singh Bedi, India's representative, exercised the country's right of reply after Pakistan raised Jammu and Kashmir during the proceedings. Bedi addressed issues including cross-border terrorism, nuclear deterrence and regional stability, maintaining that India had the right to defend itself against security threats.

Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians in April 2025, Bedi said India's military action in May that year was undertaken in self-defence. He described the response as measured, targeted and intended to avoid further escalation. His remarks reiterated New Delhi's position that the threat of nuclear escalation should not prevent India from responding to terrorist attacks or addressing concerns about cross-border violence.

Bedi also warned against treating nuclear weapons as routine instruments of state policy. He argued that relying on nuclear deterrence to limit the consequences of activities carried out below the threshold of conventional war could increase the risk of escalation rather than promote restraint. He further maintained that states must remain accountable for violence carried out through non-state actors, saying the use of such groups could not absolve governments of responsibility for their actions.

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The Indian representative also raised the Indus Waters Treaty, signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 with the involvement of the World Bank. Bedi said the agreement had been founded on mutual trust and goodwill, arguing that these principles could not be undermined while continuing to expect the benefits of cooperation. India announced in April 2025 that it would hold the treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam attack, linking the decision to its demand for an end to cross-border terrorism.

On nuclear proliferation, Bedi referred to the network associated with Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, which was involved in transferring nuclear technology to other countries. He also cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, which requires states to prevent non-state actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and related materials. He urged countries and suppliers to exercise vigilance when sharing nuclear technology and advanced military capabilities, highlighting the wider security risks associated with proliferation.

Reiterating India's position on Jammu and Kashmir, Bedi described the region as an integral part of the country and called for territories under what New Delhi considers illegal occupation to be vacated. He said India remained committed to peace but argued that lasting stability required accountability for actions that threaten regional security. He concluded by outlining India's position that terrorist attacks would receive a fitting response, that the country would not bow to nuclear blackmail, and that those sponsoring terrorism would be held responsible alongside those who mastermind it.

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