Sneha Dubey’s powerful speech at the United Nations General Assembly exemplifies diplomatic resilience and firm advocacy for India’s stance on global issues. As India’s First Secretary at the UN, she eloquently responds to misleading narratives, emphasizing the values of sovereignty, democracy, and factual representation. Her words highlight the importance of setting the record straight and standing firm against misinformation on the international stage.
Who This Speech Is For
- Learners aiming to improve formal and persuasive speech
- Those interested in diplomatic English and political discussions
- Upper-intermediate and advanced English learners
How This Speech Helps Your English
- Learn how to argue a point professionally and persuasively, using structured reasoning.
- Understand how complex sentence structures and advanced grammar are used in diplomacy.
- Expand your vocabulary with key expressions related to international relations and political discourse.
- Observe the tone, pacing, and intonation of a powerful diplomatic speaker.
Why This Speech Matters
- A real-world example of effective diplomatic communication
- Shows how facts and logic are used to counter political arguments
- Demonstrates how a calm, structured approach makes a message stronger
”Truth stands tall, no matter the noise.
Transcript
Mr. President: Dear colleagues, excellencies, before we conclude this session of the general debate, I would like to tell you that one delegation has requested to exercise the right of reply. I would like to remind members that statements made in exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and five minutes for the second intervention, and that delegations must take the floor from their seats. I now give the floor to the representative of India.
Sneha Dubey: Mr. President, we exercise our right of reply to one more attempt by the leader of Pakistan to tarnish the image of this August forum by bringing in matters internal to my country and going so far as to spew falsehoods on the world stage. While such statements deserve our collective contempt and sympathy for the mindset of the person who utters falsehood repeatedly, I am taking the flow to set the record straight.
Regrettably, this is not the first time the leader of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country, and seeking in vain to divert the world’s attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down.
Mr. President, member states are aware that Pakistan has an established history and policy of harboring, aiding, and actively supporting terrorists. This is a country which has been globally recognized as one openly supporting, training, financing, and arming terrorists as a matter of state policy. It holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN Security Council.
Mr. President, we marked the solemn occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks just a few days back. The world has not forgotten that the mastermind behind that dastardly event, Osama bin Laden, got shelter in Pakistan. Pakistan leadership continues to glorify him as a martyr. Regrettably, even today, we heard the leader of Pakistan trying to justify acts of terror. Such defense of terrorism is unacceptable in the modern world.
We keep hearing that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism. This is the country which is an arsonist disguising itself as a firefighter. Pakistan nurtures terrorists in their backyard in the hope that they will only harm their neighbors. Our region, in fact, the entire world, has suffered because of their policies. On the other hand, they are trying to cover up sectarian violence in their country as acts of terror.
Mr. President, this is also the country that still holds the despicable record in our region of having executed a religious and cultural genocide against the people of what is now Bangladesh. As we mark the 50th anniversary this year of that horrid event in history, there is not even an acknowledgement, much less accountability.
Today, the minorities of Pakistan, the Sikhs, the Hindus, the Christians, live in constant fear and state-sponsored suppression of their rights. This is a regime where anti Semitism is normalized by its leadership and even justified. Dissenting voices are muzzled daily and enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings are well documented.
Mr. President, unlike Pakistan, India is a pluralistic democracy with a substantial population of minorities who have gone on to hold highest offices in the country, including as president, prime minister, chief justices, and chiefs of army staff. India is also a country with a free media and an independent judiciary that keeps a watch and protects our constitution. Pluralism is a concept which is very difficult to understand for Pakistan, which constitutionally prohibits its minorities from aspiring for high offices of the state. The least they could do is introspect before exposing themselves to ridicule on the world stage.
Finally, Mr. President, let me reiterate here that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. This includes the areas that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. We call upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation. Mr. President, allow me to be categorical about India’s position. We desire normal relations with all our neighbours, including Pakistan. However, it is for Pakistan to work sincerely towards creating a conducive atmosphere, including by taking credible, verifiable, and irreversible actions to not allow any territory under its control to be used for cross border terrorism against India in any manner. I thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. President, every year, this Assembly has rejected the imposition of laws and regulations with extraterritorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures that hurt the progress and prosperity of the people the world over. Last year, 187 Member States voted in favor of Resolution 78/7, expressing their strong support to lifting of the embargo. The General Assembly has also called upon all states to refrain from promulgating and applying and to repeal and invalidate laws and measures that have extraterritorial effects affecting the sovereignty of other states, in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law. There is no doubt that the continued existence of this embargo, in contravention of the overwhelming opinion as expressed by this Assembly, undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the United Nations itself.
Mr. President, as the world’s largest democracy with abiding faith in multilateralism, India stands in solidarity with this assembly in its unambiguous rejection of domestic laws having extraterritorial impact. Such embargoes have the effect of impeding the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected country, in particular women and children. They also hinder the full enjoyment of human rights, including the right to development, food, medical care and social services, among other things. India has consistently opposed any unilateral measures by countries that impinge on the sovereignty of another country.
As in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the recently adopted Pact for the Future has also strongly urged states to refrain from promulgating and applying unilateral economic measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that impedes the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries. Mr. President, successive reports of the Secretary General have established that the embargo, particularly through its extraterritorial effects, has adversely affected the Cuban people and the developmental efforts of the country, with particularly devastating effects owing to shortages of essential commodities. The continued embargo would severely impact Cuba’s ability to implement the 2030 Agenda in the six years that remain.
Mr. President, people to people contact holds immense possibilities for fostering better understanding between nations. There is no doubt that the people of Cuba can contribute much to the needs of the global community today. But to enable this, the international community needs to intensify its efforts to promote an environment free from sanctions and embargoes. India hopes that the embargo will be withdrawn at the earliest and supports the draft resolution moved by Cuba. I thank you.
