Attacks on commercial shipping in Gulf, Red Sea simply indefensible: Jaishankar as India and Liberia announce ‘group of friends’

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar lamented the increasing frequency of attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers in the Gulf and Red Sea, stating that such incidents are no longer uncommon. He addressed this issue during an announcement of a "group of friends" aimed at enhancing the safety and security of shipping and seafarers, in conjunction with Liberia, the world's largest shipping registry, at the 81st UN General Assembly.

The group, which includes India as a significant source of seafarers and Liberia as the leading shipping registry, was established to address the ongoing challenges faced by merchant shipping and seafarers. Jaishankar emphasized that the repeated attacks on commercial shipping and marinas in recent months are "simply indefensible," as they disrupt maritime commerce and result in the loss of innocent lives.

These attacks have been reported in various maritime regions, including the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, Black Sea, and Somalia. Many Indian seafarers are employed on both Indian-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels operating in these areas, putting them at heightened maritime security risks.

At the UN headquarters, Jaishankar vehemently responded to a question from a Pakistani journalist regarding terrorism, accusing the country of sponsoring terrorism. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, dismissed the journalist's question, stating that India's response was loud and clear.

Earlier on September 24, 2026, an Indian journalist had asked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif when his government would stop harboring terrorists, an incident that also took place at the UN building.