An all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Thursday as part of India’s global diplomatic outreach to highlight its firm stance against terrorism following Operation Sindoor—India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The delegation, representing a cross-section of Indian political parties, aims to inform international partners about India’s fight against terrorism and the significance of its recent actions. The outreach includes visits to UAE, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone, among others.
The group led by Shinde includes:
- BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj
- IUML MP ET Mohammed Basheer
- BJP MP Atul Garg
- BJD MP Sasmit Patra
- BJP RS MP and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra
- BJP leader SS Ahluwalia
- Ambassador Sujan Chinoy
Prior to departure, Shinde described the visit as an important opportunity to deliver India’s message to the world.
“This is a great opportunity for the entire team to convey how India has faced terrorism for decades and how Pakistan has been funding and supporting it. While India has progressed economically, Pakistan has focused on terrorism,” he said.
BJP MP SS Ahluwalia emphasized the need to counter false propaganda by Pakistan:
“We are going to tell the world the truth about what happened on April 22 and before. Pakistan is spreading misinformation, and we will respond with facts.”
Bansuri Swaraj, BJP MP and a member of the delegation, highlighted the unity of purpose behind the outreach:
“The Pahalgam terror attack was a blow to India’s soul. Operation Sindoor was a strong, just response. PM Modi has made it clear—terror and talks can’t go together. Our all-party team reflects a unified, nation-first approach.”
The Indian government has dispatched seven such delegations to various strategic countries, including members of the UN Security Council, to present a unified national stance against terrorism. Another delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha also departed on Wednesday.
India’s Operation Sindoor was launched in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians. The Indian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and neutralized over 100 militants from outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The operation also targeted radar systems and airbases in Pakistan.
After a period of escalation, the two nations reached a mutual understanding to cease military operations following a call between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan.
These diplomatic missions aim to communicate India’s zero tolerance for terrorism and strengthen global support for its counterterrorism efforts.