A success story – Firstpost

Seven all-party delegations, comprising 57 members, travelled to 33 countries in the context of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April and Operation Sindoor, setting a new milestone in India’s efforts to combat terrorism. That more than a score of the members belonged to non-NDA parties, and all but two of the delegations were led by Opposition MPs is a tribute to Indian democracy and an expression of national unity on an issue of great importance.

I was privileged to be a member of the delegation led by Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) that visited the UAE, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone and Liberia. The group represented an eclectic mix of age, experience and talent.

To use cricketing parlance, it was the younger team members that took first strike, with the energetic Shinde getting excellent support from Bansuri Swaraj (BJP) and Sasmit Patra (BJD). The middle order was steadied by the dependable duo of Atul Garg (BJP) and Manan Kumar Mishra (BJP), with the experienced S.S. Ahluwalia (BJP) and E.T. Mohammed Basheer (Indian Union Muslim League) proving to be the backbone. I was frequently the pinch hitter. The batting order was often rotated to good effect. Our group spoke of India’s zero tolerance for terrorism and the precise, measured and non-escalatory nature of Operation Sindoor. We elaborated the “new normal” whereby, going forward, Pakistan will incur a cost for sponsoring cross-border terrorism.

The delegation was received warmly everywhere. India has a comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE, a leading member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It was among the first to issue a statement condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The UAE leadership engaged the Indian delegation with great candour. The Minister of Tolerance and Co-existence assured us that the UAE stood with India to tackle terrorism. He condemned terrorist acts that blemished religion. There was consensus in the interactions with the Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the federal National Council and other parliamentarians that terrorism posed a common threat to the global community.

The delegation successfully exposed Pakistan’s falsehoods during discussions with the Director General of the National Media Office. The understanding and appreciation of India’s stand among leading social media influencers in the UAE was truly remarkable. They roundly condemned the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam massacre as enemies of all humanity.

The next leg of the visit took us to West Africa. Sierra Leone, a member of the OIC, is currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and Vice-Chair of the Security Council’s ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee which proscribes several Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists. Significantly, it also chairs the African Union’s Committee of Ten (C10) on UNSC Reforms. DRC, Africa’s second-largest country, as well as Liberia, are to commence their non-permanent two-year terms in the UNSC in January 2026.

West Africa is of growing importance. It has vast mineral resources. Piracy is rearing its ugly head in the Gulf of Guinea, where the Indian Navy is expanding its cooperation with the Coordinated Maritime Presence (CMP) through joint exercises with the European Union (EU) to enhance maritime security and to counter piracy, armed robbery and illegal fishing. Africa’s emphasis on UNSC reforms is relevant to realising India’s own aspirations. The growing Indian diaspora is beginning to make its mark through trade and investments. Moreover, UN reports reveal that radicalism and terrorism, with links to Al-Qaeda and ISIL, cast a dark shadow on West Africa as well.

DRC is suffering internal conflict and cross-border violence. DRC leaders condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and conveyed heartfelt condolences. They expressed interest in working with India to combat the scourge of terrorism. The delegation’s visit helped create greater awareness about Pakistan as the epicentre of global terrorism.

he State Minister of Foreign Affairs of DRC expressed support for India’s fight against terrorism, including at international fora. There were strong expressions of sympathy and support by the Speaker of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate. During our interaction, the President of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the National Assembly took the initiative to observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Pahalgam attack.

Apart from substantive discussions with the Vice President, the highlight of the visit to Sierra Leone was the warm welcome accorded by the Speaker during an on-going session in Parliament. In a unique and touching gesture, the House observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Pahalgam attack. What is more, the Leader of the Opposition, who had participated in recent OIC meetings, was not only present but also frankly averred that the detailed briefings by the Indian delegation had helped set the record straight in the face of Pakistan’s propaganda.

On the final leg, the delegation was received by the President of Liberia, with the Foreign Minister and other senior personages in attendance. As elsewhere, interlocutors in Liberia uniformly expressed solidarity with India. The Liberian Senate also observed a moment of silence and invited the leader of the group, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, to address the house, marking the first time that an Indian Parliamentarian has been accorded such an honour. The Speaker and the heads of various parliamentary committees followed suit in paying homage to the Pahalgam victims.

In all the four countries, the delegation engaged with the local media representatives and think-tanks, resulting in extensive coverage of India’s viewpoint. Engaging the Indian diaspora was particularly important. They are force multipliers and envoys of goodwill. They act as bridges of friendship and cooperation between their motherland Bharat and the host nation.

The extraordinary outreach on the part of the Government of India has sensitised the world to the evil perpetrated by Pakistan-based terrorists. The participation of representatives of the people from across the political spectrum has helped prepare the ground, both domestically and internationally, for India’s strong response to any future cross-border terrorist attacks. Upon their return, PM Narendra Modi interacted with all the seven groups, receiving valuable feedback. He commended them for their service to the nation. For me, the key takeaway is that politics in India need not be divisive on core issues such as national security.

The author, a former Ambassador, is currently the Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.