New Delhi: In a strong rebuttal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement, India on Friday said that the neighbouring country’s military “pleaded” with it for a cessation of fighting during Operation Sindoor.

The remarks were made by First Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Petal Gahlot, after Pakistan PM, in his address to the General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), credited President Donald Trump with averting a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Petal Gahlot further said that India and Pakistan have long agreed that any outstanding issue between them will be addressed bilaterally. “There is no room for any third party in that regard. This is our longstanding national position,” she said.

On the Pakistani PM’s call for dialogue with India, she said,” The Pakistani Prime Minister has spoken about wanting peace with India. If he is indeed sincere, the pathway is clear. Pakistan must immediately shut down all terrorist camps and hand over to us the terrorists wanted in India”.

“Where terrorism is concerned, we are making it clear that there will be no distinction between the terrorists and their sponsors. Both will be held accountable. Nor will we allow terrorism to be practised under the cover of nuclear blackmail. India will never bow to such threats. India’s message to the world is clear; there must be zero tolerance for terrorism,” she added.

In his address, Sharif said Pakistan was ready for a “composite, comprehensive and result-oriented” dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, as he criticised New Delhi over the situation in Kashmir.

Sharif praised Trump, saying his “efforts for peace helped avert a … war in South Asia”.

“In recognition of President Trump’s wonderful and outstanding contribution to promote peace in our part of the world, Pakistan nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is the least we could do … I think he truly is a man of peace,” he said.

India targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

India has consistently maintained that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations of the two militaries. (With inputs from PTI).