Daijiworld Media Network - Brussels
Brussels, Jun 5: An Indian parliamentary delegation, led by senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, met with European Parliament Vice-President Christel Schaldemose in Brussels on Thursday to highlight Pakistan’s ongoing use of terrorism as state policy. The meeting was part of India’s diplomatic offensive following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left several civilians dead.
In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Belgium described the meeting as “a good opportunity to brief at a senior parliamentary level the use of cross-border terrorism as an instrument of state policy to disrupt progress in Kashmir and communalise the situation.” The embassy also emphasized India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and called for international condemnation of the Pahalgam attack.
Prasad echoed these sentiments, saying the delegation “exposed Pakistan’s use of terrorism to undermine development in Kashmir and incite communal tensions.” He added that the delegation requested European officials to highlight the cost of supporting terrorism in Pakistan, especially given the international aid flowing into the country.
“We were deeply impressed by her evident affection for India and her commitment to upholding humanity and democracy,” Prasad added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Indian delegation emphasized India’s strong response to terrorism and the goals of Operation Sindoor, the country’s latest counterterrorism initiative. They also underlined the importance of strengthening the India-EU partnership, particularly in the fight against terrorism.
On Wednesday, the delegation met with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to discuss global peace, cross-border terrorism, and cooperation in counterterrorism. The European side expressed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack, while the Indian delegation explained Operation Sindoor’s aims and India’s firm stance on terrorism.
The delegation also met Brussels-based think tanks to share insights on counterterrorism efforts and India’s experience combating cross-border terrorism. Discussions highlighted India’s message of zero tolerance for terrorism and the urgent need for international cooperation to dismantle terror networks.
Additionally, the delegation engaged with the Indian diaspora, who expressed their support for India’s robust response to the Pahalgam attack and pledged to amplify India’s voice on the global stage.
The nine-member delegation featured MPs from multiple parties, including Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Daggubati Purandeswari (BJP), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT), Ghulam Ali Khatana (BJP), Amar Singh (Congress), Samik Bhattacharya (BJP), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), former Union Minister M.J. Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran.
The Brussels visit followed stops in France, Italy, Denmark, and the UK as part of India’s diplomatic campaign to spotlight the continuing threat of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and highlight the significance of Operation Sindoor.