Overview

• Petal Gahlot, First Secretary at India’s UN mission, delivered India’s right of reply to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif at the General Assembly, calling his address “absurd theatrics” that glorified terrorism.
• In her statement, she accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorist groups and cited Operation Sindoor, claiming Pakistani airbases were damaged and that Islamabad sought a halt to hostilities.
• Clips of Gahlot playing guitar have resurfaced on X, including a May 2025 cover of the Bollywood song “Kabira,” drawing fresh praise and wide sharing after her UN intervention.
• An older video from 2023 shows her performing “Lost On You,” with coverage also noting other musical posts that have contributed to her growing public profile.
• Gahlot joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2015, has served in Paris and San Francisco, and has represented India at the UN in New York since July 2023.