Voicing India's Concerns At The World Level Was Necessary

It’s now been over two weeks since the seven all-party delegations sent to thirty-two countries following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindhoor returned. Rightly, there are public discussions on the visits, including commentaries and questions as put forth even by the Free Press Journal.

This author was a part of the delegation led by Ms Kanimozi Karunanidhi, senior DMK leader and Lok Sabha MP, which visited Russia and Slovenia. Latvia, Greece and Spain. Apart from the leader, the delegation included four MPs, three being from major opposition parties and one from the ruling BJP.

Everywhere the delegation was received by senior government functionaries, including a foreign minister, two deputy foreign ministers, a national security advisor and state secretaries for foreign affairs. In addition, discussions took place with the relevant parliamentary committee dealing with foreign affairs—in Russia, the delegation met the relevant committees of both the Duma and the Federal Council (upper house). Furthermore, there were extensive interactions with relevant think tanks and meetings with members of the Indian community.

The heinous nature of the Pahalgam terrorist attack that sought to tear at the heart of the inclusive societal fabric of India saw a strong coming together of India, with the all-party character of the delegations testifying to India’s national resolve on zero tolerance for terrorism and ensuring an unremitting response to terrorists and those that aid and abet this curse of the modern world.

Most of the countries visited have their own experiences of terrorism, and at all places there was a strong expression of solidarity with India and agreement on India’s stance and right to defend its people. Indeed, terrorism was referred to as the cancer of the modern world by a senior interlocutor who agreed that it needs to be eviscerated and radiated out of today’s global society. Of course, the general suggestion of talks with Pakistan was raised, but the message of India that talks required their eschewing terrorism and dismantling its structures in their country was well received.

There was also clear understanding that India would, henceforth, act against terrorism with a steely and hard-hitting response. Interestingly, unlike questioning references in certain media pieces, there were no doubting-Thomases among the senior interlocutors met by the delegation on the hand of Pakistan and the Pakistani state on the Pahalgam attack. Obviously, those who matter know and are not oblivious to the tracing of that country to nearly every major terrorist attack not only in India but across the globe.

On issues such as the holding of the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, the visit allowed putting across India’s perspective on the need for water equity in this basin in the changed global circumstances of climate change while being clear that India well and truly understands and respects its role as an upper riparian.

The fact that the entire political spectrum in India had come together and was reaching out to the world resonated deeply and positively with all interlocutors. For parliamentarians in these countries, who are not only aware of India’s huge democracy but also its contestations, the opposition-heavy delegations brought about, in an appreciative manner, a crystal-clear understanding of this coming together of India in a national resolve on terrorism. Indeed, one of the clear messages received by all delegations was that the countries sought stepped-up interaction with Indian MPs, particularly bilateral, and certainly going beyond those at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Furthermore, for all there was much awareness and keen interest in India’s growing economic prowess. This made India a country of major interest to all. While, of course, governments balance several factors in taking decisions, the pursuance of economic benefits is an important contributory determinant, and building strong ties with India serves their interests. This was strongly echoed in all the countries. In this context, making them mindful of India’s core concerns was certainly put across.

A query raised by many is about the need to visit so many small countries spread across the globe rather than just focus on major global players. The answer lies in the membership of the UN Security Council, which has ten non-permanent members elected for a two-year term with two from each of the five regional groupings at the UN (Asia, Africa, Latin America, West Europe and East Europe). Every year there are elections, and four/five of these ten are replaced.

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Pakistan is presently on the UNSC, serving the two-year term of 2025-2026. As part of the monthly rotation of the UNSC Presidency, it will preside over the Council in July. Moreover, given the practice of non-permanent members chairing UNSC committees, Pakistan has secured the Vice-Chair of the Counter Terrorism Committee and chairs the 1988 Committee (one of the successors to the 1267 Committee formed after 9/11), which deals with listings connected with the Taliban. It was, therefore, critical to reach out to all those countries which are presently on the UNSC or likely to join in 2026, including permanent members, though for obvious reasons China was not included in these visits. This high-level sensitisation was important both from the perspective of seeking their support to ensure a renewed global war on terrorism and any possible misadventures that Pakistan may attempt on terrorism, listing or de-listing of terrorists or even the Kashmir issue at the UNSC by virtue of its membership over the next 18 months or so.

A point is made that the outreach is basically targeted inward. Foreign policy world over is rooted domestically, but domestic positivity cannot detract from the importance of reaching out to the world on matters of critical concern, especially those that are from across one’s borders and have a huge global negativity. No doubt, India’s all-party efforts to sensitise the world on terrorism and ensure a strong and unremitting global gaze on terrorism and those who aid and abet it have been seen both nationally and internationally with much positivity.

The writer is a former ambassador of India to the EU and Nepal.