In a bold diplomatic move following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, India has launched a high-level outreach to 33 strategically chosen countries. The objective is to convey a unified and firm stance against cross-border terrorism, particularly from Pakistan, and to rally international support for India’s counterterrorism efforts.
Seven official delegations, made up of members from across the political spectrum, have been tasked with visiting key countries and institutions, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the delegations, equipping them with detailed dossiers that document Pakistan’s suspected involvement in multiple terrorist operations, including the Pahalgam attack.
During the briefing, Misri outlined the rationale behind selecting the 33 countries. BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi highlighted that 15 of these are current UNSC members, encompassing all five permanent members and ten rotating non-permanent ones. Another five nations are expected to join the UNSC soon, and the remaining countries were selected for their international influence and engagement on global security issues.
This global diplomatic effort aims to directly counter narratives that downplay or ignore the threat of cross-border terrorism. The comprehensive documentation provided to the delegations presents strong evidence of Pakistan’s support for terror groups operating against India, with the goal of persuading these nations to back India’s position more publicly and strongly.
Who’s Leading the Outreach?
Each delegation is being led by a prominent MP, ensuring both political diversity and credibility:
- Baijayant Panda (BJP): Visiting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria.
- Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP): Leading the delegation to the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, and the European Union for high-level diplomatic discussions and cooperation initiatives.
- Shashi Tharoor (Congress): Heading the delegation to the USA, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and Guyana.
- Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU): Visiting Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
- Kanimozhi (DMK): Assigned to Spain, Greece, Latvia, Slovenia, and Russia for official diplomatic and parliamentary engagements.
- Supriya Sule (NCP-SP): Leading visits to Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Qatar.
- Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena): Visiting UAE, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This cross-party approach underlines India’s national consensus against terrorism and signals to the world that the country stands united in its diplomatic and security strategy.
