In a significant diplomatic push following the recent India-Pakistan conflict and the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government has launched "Operation Sindoor," dispatching seven all-party delegations to key nations across the globe. The initiative aims to present a united front against terrorism, highlight Pakistan's role in cross-border terrorism, and garner international support for India's stance.
The delegations comprise 51 prominent political figures, including Members of Parliament and former ministers from various parties, reflecting a broad consensus on the issue of terrorism. The composition of these delegations underscores India's commitment to addressing global terrorism through collaborative efforts and diverse political representation. Of the 51 leaders, 31 belong to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while 20 are from non-NDA parties.
Significantly, several former Union Ministers, despite not being current MPs, are also part of this outreach. Ghulam Nabi Azad, M.J. Akbar, and Anand Sharma are among the prominent figures included in these delegations, highlighting the importance of experience and continuity in India's diplomatic efforts.
The seven all-party delegations will be led by senior MPs from different political parties. These include Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP), and Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena). Each delegation will also include former diplomats and specialists to provide additional expertise and support.
The destinations for these delegations include key partner countries and members of the UN Security Council. Shashi Tharoor is expected to lead the delegation to the United States, while Ravi Shankar Prasad's team will visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. Supriya Sule's delegation will travel to Oman, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt. Other destinations include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the European Union headquarters in Brussels, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, Russia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and several African countries.
The inclusion of diverse political voices in these delegations is a strategic move to showcase India's united front against terrorism. For instance, Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) is part of the delegation led by Baijayant Panda, which will visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. Similarly, Anand Sharma is part of the team led by Supriya Sule, which will travel to Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa.
The outreach program follows the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent retaliatory operation, Operation Sindoor. The government hopes to generate significant diplomatic and political momentum against Pakistan in global forums by highlighting Islamabad's role in cross-border terrorism.
Past governments have also undertaken similar initiatives to present India's case on crucial issues. In 1994, Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao sent a delegation led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva to counter a Pakistan-sponsored resolution. In 2008, after the Mumbai attacks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent multi-party delegations to different continents to present dossiers on Pakistan's links to the terror attacks.
