Frustrations mount over lack of UN reforms: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said, frustration is growing within the international community over the lack of progress on reforming the United Nations. Dr Jaishankar was speaking at a ministerial session titled ‘Ruptures & Ramparts: Building Bridges for a Changing World’ on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. The External Affairs Minister said there is a growing feeling that the UN must change and better reflect the realities of the world today. He said countries opposing UN reforms cannot continue to use the organisation without supporting efforts to strengthen it. During a media interaction,Dr Jaishankar on Friday responded sharply to a Pakistani reporter who asked, “When will your government stop sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan?” at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.“A terrorist country is asking me that question,” Jaishankar said in response to the reporter, who raised the question towards the end of the briefing.

“A terrorist country is asking me that question?”

EAM @DrSJaishankar’s sharp response to a Pakistani journalist at the UN@IndiaUNNewYork @AmbHarishP tells the Pakistani journalist: You’ve heard your response, loud and clear. pic.twitter.com/AYlkzgwB1C

— Yoshita Singh योषिता सिंह (@Yoshita_Singh) September 25, 2026

Dr Jaishankar co-chair the inaugural meeting of Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers, along with Liberia FM Sara Beysolow Nyanti.He Highlighted that commercial shipping and mariners have been subjected to repeated attacks in the Gulf, the Red Sea, the Black Sea and other regions in the last few months and pointed out that such attacks disrupt maritime commerce and have cost innocent lives, including of Indian nationals. EAM Jaishankar stressed that there is a need for stronger and closer cooperation between the international community in order to close ranks and deter such attacks.He said that India is a major source of seafarers and Liberia has the largest shipping registry. For the safty of them, there is a need for closer and international cooperation for their safty, he said. 

My remarks at the inaugural meeting of Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers #GoFonS4 #UNGA81 https://t.co/zOoYjpL0bx

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 25, 2026

Dr Jaishankar signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, aimed at strengthening global efforts to prevent and combat cybercrime. “This Convention strengthens international cooperation for a safer digital future,” Jaishankar said in a post on X. According to the United Nations, the convention is the first comprehensive global treaty on cybercrime and provides countries with a range of measures to prevent and combat such offences. It also seeks to strengthen international cooperation in the sharing of electronic evidence related to serious crimes.
Earlier, he met his counterparts from Iran and Russia, with discussions ranging from bilateral issues, cooperation in the BRICS grouping and the Gulf conflict. Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and discussed bilateral issues as well as cooperation in the BRICS grouping. “A good meeting with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia #UNGA81. Exchanged views on a number of ongoing issues. Also took stock of our bilateral and BRICS cooperation,” Jaishankar said, referring to the grouping of Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates.