Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 17: In a rare show of political unity, India is dispatching seven all-party delegations of Members of Parliament (MPs) to key global capitals in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives in Jammu and Kashmir. The move is aimed at countering Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the incident and reinforcing India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism.
The delegations, comprising MPs from across party lines, senior diplomats, and political leaders, will travel to strategically important nations—including members of the UN Security Council—later this month. Countries on the itinerary include the United States, Japan, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, and South Africa.
Among the prominent MPs leading these diplomatic missions 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. Other participants include BJP’s Anurag Thakur, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, and Tejasvi Surya; Congress MP Manish Tewari; TDP’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu; and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs emphasized that the delegations would present a unified national message against terrorism and defend India’s recent counter-terror operation, dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’, which targeted militant infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied territories without causing civilian harm.
"This initiative showcases national unity beyond political divisions. These delegations will assert India’s firm resolve against terrorism and call for global accountability," said the ministry in a statement.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju echoed this sentiment on social media, posting: "In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united… A powerful reflection of national unity above politics."
This is the first time the Indian government has mobilized multi-party MPs as international envoys in a direct diplomatic response to a terrorist attack. The outreach also seeks to counter Pakistan’s recent attempts to internationalize the Kashmir issue and address global narratives following comments made by international leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
The delegations are tasked with briefing foreign governments about the Pahalgam attack and reinforcing India’s long-standing position that Kashmir is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan, not subject to third-party intervention.