Former Union Minister MJ Akbar, speaking in Berlin as part of an all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, firmly underscored India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, declaring, “An invading army at the border will not be stopped by eloquence. It will be stopped by military force.”
Addressing the Indian diaspora in Germany, Akbar emphasized the power of national unity in defeating terrorism not only within India’s borders but globally.
“This is the unity, this is the power, that has defeated the terrorist state of Pakistan — in Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and on every frontier across the world,” he said.
Akbar also praised India’s economic progress, citing a recent World Bank report stating that the number of people living in extreme poverty in India has dropped below 5 percent.
“We have become the fourth largest economy, and those in hardship poverty are now less than 5 percent. That is the economic growth we aim for,” he noted.
Warning about the rising threat of terrorism in the name of religion, Akbar said, “A time will come in this century when the world will realise that terrorism in the name of religion is the biggest challenge facing humanity.” He condemned nations that support such ideologies, stating they don’t belong in the modern world.
The event also saw BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya reiterate the party’s stance on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), stating, “We want Akhand Bharat. PoK was ours. If not today, then tomorrow it will come back to us.”
The diaspora event began with a two-minute silence to honour the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation, comprising members from BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIADMK, and others, has been in Berlin after concluding a visit to Belgium. They met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and several Bundestag members to discuss terrorism and regional security.
Ravi Shankar Prasad earlier stated in Brussels that Pakistan’s military-terrorist nexus is a serious threat to global democracy and peace. He pointed out India’s decisive military response, including targeted strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists.