Global Stand: India’s Firm Message on Terror

India’s recent diplomatic offensive across Europe under Operation Sindoor Outreach marks a significant shift in how the country is confronting cross-border terrorism on the global stage. The all-party delegation, led by senior BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, delivered a resolute message—terrorism emanating from Pakistan will be treated as an "act of war." This unambiguous stance, articulated in key European capitals, reflects India’s hardened posture following the dastardly attack in Pahalgam, which drew widespread condemnation. The delegation’s efforts to rally international opinion against state-sponsored terror were met with solidarity, reinforcing the urgency of isolating Pakistan for its role in perpetuating violence.

The success of this outreach lies not just in the diplomatic handshakes but in the clarity of India’s narrative. By presenting evidence and engaging with lawmakers, think tanks, and diaspora communities, the delegation exposed Pakistan’s decades-long strategy of using terror as a tool of coercion. BJP MP Ghulam Ali Khatana’s stark warning that India will no longer tolerate such provocations resonated strongly, signalling a departure from passive diplomacy to assertive deterrence. Equally significant was the cross-party consensus, with MPs like AIADMK’s Thambidurai and BJP’s Daggubati Purandeswari underscoring the mission’s unified purpose.

Parallel delegations, including one to the US and the Americas led by Shashi Tharoor and another to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria featuring AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, complemented this effort. While their impact is still unfolding, their very composition, spanning political divides, demonstrates India’s rare unity on national security. The expectation was to translate outrage over Pahalgam into tangible global pressure on Pakistan. The relevance of these missions cannot be overstated; they counter Islamabad’s false equivalences and ensure India’s grievances are heard without dilution.

Critics may question whether such tours yield immediate policy shifts, but their true measure lies in the gradual erosion of Pakistan’s credibility. Europe’s vocal condemnation and the US’s growing impatience with Islamabad suggest the message is cutting through. For India, the challenge now is to sustain this momentum, ensuring that the world’s anger translates into concrete action, be it through sanctions, isolation, or heightened scrutiny of Pakistan’s terror infrastructure. The aftermath of Pahalgam has shown that India’s patience is exhausted. The world is listening. The next step must be accountability.

Beyond symbolism, these missions served a strategic purpose, countering Pakistan’s attempts to internationalise Kashmir while deflecting blame for terrorism. By engaging European parliaments and institutions, India preempted Islamabad’s propaganda, ensuring that discussions on regional security centred on cross-border terror rather than political grievances. The delegation’s access to high-level policymakers, including meetings with EU officials in Brussels, amplified India’s case, making it harder for Pakistan to evade responsibility. This proactive diplomacy has turned global forums into platforms for accountability rather than equivocation.