Pakistan suffered a major embarrassment at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) when it was called out for supporting terrorism — and it all happened in just four seconds. The incident unfolded during a heated discussion on recent Israeli airstrikes on Qatar. Israel claimed the strikes targeted senior Hamas leaders.
Canadian Lawyer Targets Qatar
During the session, Hillel Neuer, a Canadian human rights lawyer and Executive Director of UN Watch, accused Qatar of “harbouring terrorists.” He highlighted that Qatar has hosted Hamas' political office since 2012. Hamas is a US-designated terror group.
Neuer also criticized the UN Secretary-General for condemning Israel over its strikes. To make his point, he recalled the 2011 US operation in Pakistan that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. At that time, the then-UN chief had said, “justice has been done.”
Today at the U.N. I asked Qatar: “If you don’t want targeted bombings on terrorists in your capital, why do you harbor terrorists in your capital? Why is your Al Jazeera serving as Hamas' non-stop propaganda arm? Why do you act as mediator by day, and a terror sponsor by night?” https://t.co/xi2EZlC5B7 pic.twitter.com/tTghv5JK4U
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) September 10, 2025
Pakistan Interrupts Speech
When Neuer mentioned Bin Laden, Pakistan’s delegate immediately interrupted his speech. The representative raised a point of order, asking the UNHRC chair to prevent any speaker from violating the UN Charter or questioning the territorial integrity of a member state.
“We reject casting unfounded accusations and allegations,” Pakistan said firmly.
The chairperson acknowledged the interruption as a “procedural point of order” but then handed the floor back to Neuer. The chair reminded him that he had only four seconds left to conclude his statement.
Neuer’s Four-Second Response
In those final four seconds, Neuer delivered a sharp blow. “Mr President, Pakistan is another state sponsor of terror,” he declared, ending his speech. His remark left Pakistan’s delegation visibly embarrassed.
History of Tensions with UN Watch
This was not the first time UN Watch criticized Pakistan. The Geneva-based human rights NGO has repeatedly accused Islamabad of supporting terrorism and violating human rights.
In 2020, UN Watch openly mocked Pakistan after it secured a seat on the Human Rights Council. The organization tweeted, “Your presence on the UN Human Rights Council is intolerable.”
Your presence on the U.N. Human Rights Council is intolerable. https://t.co/rVhyS3qHVS
— UN Watch (@UNWatch) November 6, 2020
The tweet came in response to a post by Pakistan’s government quoting then-Prime Minister Imran Khan. His message read, “Blasphemy in the garb of freedom of expression is intolerable.” The statement followed the beheading of a French teacher in Paris by an Islamist extremist.
A Diplomatic Blow
This latest incident added to Pakistan’s diplomatic woes. Neuer’s swift response not only highlighted Islamabad’s controversial past but also sparked global attention, further straining Pakistan’s image on the international stage.