Reaffirming Japan’s strong position against global terrorism, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Thursday emphasized that terrorism is inexcusable under any circumstance. His statement came during a meeting with a visiting delegation of Indian parliamentarians led by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha.
Japan and India, bound by a ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership,’ jointly condemned the escalating threat of terrorism during this high-level diplomatic engagement in Tokyo. The Indian delegation, representing various political parties, arrived in Japan earlier in the day as part of Operation Sindoor—India’s ongoing global campaign aimed at highlighting Pakistan’s ties to cross-border terrorism and extremist outfits.
At the outset of the meeting, Minister Iwaya expressed condolences to the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir. He also extended sympathies to those injured in the incident.
“Minister Iwaya clearly stated that terrorism can never be justified, regardless of the motive. Japan resolutely condemns all forms of terrorist activity and remains committed to collaborating with the international community—including India—to combat this global menace,” the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official statement following the discussions.
Welcoming the recent India-Pakistan agreement to halt military operations, Iwaya shared that he had separately held phone conversations with both India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. He expressed hope that continued dialogue between the two nations would contribute to peace and stability in the South Asian region.
In response, MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, who represents the Janata Dal (United), elaborated on India’s position regarding the current security situation and reiterated the country’s firm stance against terrorism.
Adding a strategic layer to the visit, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is also present in Tokyo. He participated in the Foreign Secretary–Vice Minister Dialogue with Takehiro Funakoshi, Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs. Their talks included a detailed exchange on regional dynamics, particularly within the Indo-Pacific, with Misri reiterating India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
Meanwhile, the Indian parliamentary delegation also held significant discussions with Takashi Endo, Chairman of the National Security Committee in Japan’s House of Representatives. These talks further reinforced the two countries’ shared concerns about international terrorism and regional security.
In the aftermath of the meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya stressed the necessity of bringing terrorists to justice and conveyed strong support for India’s response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
MP Sanjay Kumar Jha later shared a message on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Reiterated our national resolve to act firmly against terror and those who support it. Grateful for Japan’s support and its call for justice against the perpetrators of such acts.”
The Indian delegation includes several prominent parliamentarians: BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi and Brij Lal, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Barittas, and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid. Their presence underscores the bipartisan nature of India’s diplomatic outreach and its unified front on the issue of terrorism.
This visit marks the launch of a new phase in India’s diplomatic offensive following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Through engagements such as these, India aims to raise global awareness of Pakistan’s continued involvement in fostering cross-border terrorism.
