Pakistan faced public embarrassment at the United Nations this week after human rights lawyer Hillel Neuer denounced it as “another state sponsor of terrorism.” The heated exchange unfolded after Islamabad condemned Israel’s strikes in Doha, which killed five Hamas operatives and a Qatari security officer.
While Pakistan’s delegate labelled the strikes “unlawful and heinous,” Neuer countered by accusing Qatar of harbouring Hamas leaders in luxury hotels, and turned on Islamabad itself. “We have heard a lot about international law from the world’s worst violators,” he said. Given four extra seconds by the UNHRC chair, Neuer concluded: “Mr President, Pakistan is another state sponsor of terror.”
A stunned Pakistani diplomat attempted to interrupt, calling the remarks “unfounded,” but was overruled.
Neuer Slams Qatar and Pakistan
Addressing the council, Neuer charged Qatar with “acting as a mediator by day, and a terror sponsor by night,” recalling that Gulf states had suspended ties with Doha in 2017 over similar allegations. “If you don’t want targeted bombings of terrorists in your capital, why do you harbour terrorists in your capital?” he asked
Neuer went further, linking Pakistan to terrorism. “We have heard a lot about international law from the world’s worst violators of international law,” he said, before concluding: “Mr President, Pakistan is another state sponsor of terror.”
UN Chair Allows Speech, Pakistan Objects
Pakistan’s delegate attempted to interrupt, rejecting Neuer’s accusations as “unfounded.” But the UNHRC chair granted Neuer additional seconds to finish his remarks, leaving the Pakistani diplomat visibly shaken as the session ended.
Neuer also criticised UN Secretary-General António Guterres, accusing him of double standards for condemning Israel’s actions in Qatar while praising the U.S. killing of Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil in 2011.
Why Pakistan Keeps Getting Berated Internationally
The UN episode was not an isolated embarrassment; it fits a broader pattern. Analysts and rights groups repeatedly cite Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists and proxies. Accusations of tolerating or cultivating militant groups in Kashmir and Afghanistan have long dogged Pakistan’s global reputation, undermining its credibility as a counterterrorism partner.
Blasphemy law abuses, crackdowns on journalists, and curbs on civil society attract regular criticism in State Department reports and by NGOs. Moreover, persistent military influence over politics and foreign policy raises questions about democratic stability and policy accountability.
Together, these weaknesses explain why episodes like Neuer’s attack gain traction internationally. They reinforce a perception that Pakistan oscillates between victimhood narratives abroad and security-first authoritarianism at home.
Israel Confirms Strike in Doha
The UN row came just a day after Israel confirmed it had targeted Hamas leaders in Doha. Though top officials reportedly survived, the strike killed five Hamas operatives and one Qatari security officer in his 20s. Hamas accused Israel of aggression, while Qatar condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty.
The exchange at the UN has reignited debates over Pakistan’s and Qatar’s roles in sheltering terror groups, drawing sharp international scrutiny at a time of heightened Middle East tensions.