In a significant diplomatic initiative, India has announced a global campaign aimed at highlighting Pakistan’s purported role in promoting terrorism. This action follows heightened tensions after a terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily tourists. In response, India carried out a military operation, known as Operation Sindoor, on May 7.
The Indian government is deploying a 40-member delegation composed of parliamentarians from various political parties. This delegation will be split into seven groups that will embark on visits to key global capitals, including Washington D.C., London, Abu Dhabi, Pretoria, and Tokyo, starting on May 23. This unprecedented initiative seeks to present a unified Indian position concerning Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism, particularly in relation to Kashmir.
Each delegation will be partnered with an official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and will carry dossiers that provide evidence of alleged terrorist infrastructure linked to Pakistan. These documents, which have been jointly prepared by the MEA, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, outline Pakistan’s supposed role in facilitating terrorism and detail the planning and execution of recent attacks.
The campaign will also focus on the results of Operation Sindoor, which specifically targeted nine terror-linked locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), resulting in the elimination of over 100 militants. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri characterized the strikes as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible,” reaffirming India’s dedication to combatting terrorism while avoiding broader conflict.
The delegation includes notable parliamentarians such as Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sasmit Patra, Sanjay Jha, Salman Khurshid, and Aparajita Sarangi. Initiated by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, this effort is designed to convey a strong message of political unity regarding national security.
The Pahalgam attack, which has been compared to the 2008 Mumbai attacks for its focused targeting of civilians, has garnered international condemnation. India attributes the attack to elements based in Pakistan, a claim that Islamabad has denied. Instead, Pakistan has urged for an international investigation into the matter.
Operation Sindoor stands out as the first cross-border assault of this magnitude since the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, with Indian forces reportedly striking targets deep within Pakistan, particularly in the Punjab province. This operation has elicited calls for restraint from several countries, including France, Germany, Japan, and Qatar, while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced strong support for the central government’s anti-terror agenda.
This new diplomatic effort tracks with previous strategies like the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, indicating a pattern of military and diplomatic assertiveness in combating terrorism. Analysts perceive the inclusivity of this campaign as a strategic play aimed at demonstrating national consensus and enhancing the credibility of India’s narrative on the global platform.
As the preparations for the diplomatic tour are finalized, international observers are closely monitoring developments to ascertain whether India’s diplomatic endeavors will garner broader global support or contribute to escalating geopolitical tensions in South Asia.
