Tharoor, Sule among 7 MPs to lead Indian delegations abroad on Pahalgam attack

New Delhi: In response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, India has launched a diplomatic counteroffensive by dispatching multiple delegations of Members of Parliament (MPs) to key nations worldwide.

The initiative aims to highlight Pakistan's alleged role in the attack and reinforce India's firm stance against terrorism.

Each of the seven delegations will comprise MPs from various political parties, along with senior diplomats and prominent political figures.

Leading the delegations are Congress' Shashi Tharoor, BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, JD(U)'s Sanjay Kumar Jha, DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena's Shrikant Eknath Shinde.

According to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, these all-party delegations will be visiting important partner nations, including members of the United Nations Security Council, later this month.

"In the context of 'Operation Sindoor' and India's continued fight against cross-border terrorism, seven All-Party Delegations are set to visit key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council, later this month," the ministry said in a statement.

"The All-Party Delegations will project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. They would carry forth to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism," it added.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, posting on X, wrote, "In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united. Seven all-party delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying our shared message of zero tolerance for terrorism. A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences."

India is set to dispatch diplomatic delegations to key nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Egypt, the United States, and Japan, as part of its unified stance against terrorism.

The initiative seeks to rally international support in holding Pakistan accountable while reinforcing India's firm position on counterterrorism efforts.

Among the MPs expected to participate are BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, and Tejasvi Surya, along with TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Congress MP Manish Tewari, and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi.

Sources suggest that this cross-party diplomatic push is a direct response to Pakistan's intensified efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue, as well as recent remarks by US President Donald Trump.

New Delhi continues to assert that Kashmir remains a bilateral issue.

For the first time, the Modi government has deployed elected representatives from various political parties as diplomatic emissaries to counter Pakistan's narrative on the global stage.

The delegations will focus on two key objectives: briefing foreign governments on the Pahalgam terror attack and clarifying that 'Operation Sindoor' specifically targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied territories without posing a threat to civilian lives.

(inputs from IANS)