Question on Hafiz Saeed.. Shehbaz Sharif Walks Away Without Responding

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif faced questions from reporters about terrorism and Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed during his visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly. As Sharif arrived, a journalist asked when Pakistan would stop harbouring terrorists. He did not respond. Later, as he was leaving the UN premises, another question was put to him about when Pakistan would prosecute Hafiz Saeed. Sharif again declined to answer and continued walking.

The episode comes amid continued India-Pakistan disagreements over cross-border terrorism. India has criticised Pakistan at international forums over terrorism-related issues. Hafiz Saeed, the founder of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, is designated by the UN as a terrorist and is an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case. India’s National Investigation Agency has also named Saeed as an accused in its supplementary chargesheet concerning the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. These are documented allegations and legal proceedings, while the broader claims about Pakistan’s conduct remain subjects of dispute between the two countries.