India’s global anti-terror outreach gains momentum: A multiparty mission with one message
Srinagar, May 5: The visit by an Indian parliamentary delegation to the 9/11 Memorial in New York, immediately upon their arrival in the United States, was not just symbolic; it was a strong, deliberate signal. Standing at the site that bore the brunt of one of history’s deadliest terrorist attacks, the delegation highlighted a powerful message: the world must stand united against terrorism.
As India reels from the Pahalgam massacre on 22 April, that left 26 tourists dead, the country is escalating its diplomatic campaign to have The Resistance Front (TRF) and like-minded terrorist groups designated as a global terrorist organisation at the United Nations and to hold Pakistan accountable for sheltering and supporting such groups. This renewed push is part of a broader and unprecedented diplomatic offensive.
India has dispatched multiparty delegations to several global capitals with a single purpose: to present a united front against terrorism and mobilise global pressure against state-backed extremism.
Leading the charge of one of the teams is Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor, who is heading the all-party delegation to the United States and its surroundings.
In New York, the delegation that arrived on Saturday engages with think tanks, academic leaders, media, and policymakers to build international consensus around India's zero-tolerance stance.
The visit to the 9/11 site, according to Tharoor, served as a “reminder that this is a shared problem” and a gesture of solidarity with global victims of terrorism.
“It was obviously a very moving moment for us,” said Tharoor as reported by ANI and media outlets. “But it was also meant to send a very strong message—we are here in a city still bearing the scars of a savage terrorist attack, in the wake of yet another attack in our own country.”
The delegation's outreach comes in the aftermath of India's retaliatory strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Tharoor described India’s response as “precise and calibrated,” targeting nine known launchpads and headquarters of groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.
“This was not meant to be the opening salvo in a protracted war but a clear act of retribution,” he said to ANI news agency and media reporters, emphasising the strategic intent to deter rather than escalate.
Though Tharoor is from the opposition Congress Party, his remarks align with the national mood. In his own words: “I authored an op-ed saying it was time to hit hard and hit smart—and I’m pleased that’s exactly what India did.”
A key focus of the delegation's messaging has been the urgent need for international institutions, particularly the United Nations, to act against groups like TRF and those supporting them. Within hours of the Pahalgam attack, TRF claimed responsibility. New Delhi maintains that TRF is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, already a proscribed entity under UN and US sanctions.
Yet, according to Tharoor, Pakistan, with backing from China, succeeded in removing any reference to TRF from a draft UN Security Council statement. “This is not just disappointing—it’s a failure of the international system to hold terror sponsors accountable,” Tharoor said bluntly as reported by media.
India has submitted fresh dossiers with extensive evidence of TRF’s operational links to Lashkar-e-Taiba, urging the UN to formally designate it as a terrorist organisation. The diplomatic effort is being framed as a test case for the credibility of global counterterrorism commitments.
More Delegations Abroad
Even as Tharoor and his colleagues canvassed opinion in the US, another all-party delegation led by MP Sanjay Kumar Jha arrived in South Korea (May 24–26). This group includes veteran diplomat Mohan Kumar and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.
In Seoul, the team will meet foreign ministry officials, lawmakers, think tanks, and the press to reinforce India’s Operation Sindoor narrative and its broader campaign against terrorism.
A third delegation led by BJP MP Jay Panda landed in Bahrain to take India’s message to the Gulf region.
All three delegations share one striking feature: their cross-party composition. From the BJP’s Tejaswi Surya and Shashank Mani Tripathi to the JMM’s Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shiv Sena’s Mallikarjun Devda, the breadth of participation signals a rare political consensus on national security.
India’s evolving diplomatic strategy
This diplomatic blitz signals an evolution in India’s counterterrorism doctrine—militarily, yes, but also diplomatically.
For decades, India's response to terrorism was largely reactive, often confined to bilateral condemnations or diplomatic démarches. That approach, shaped by strategic caution and international constraints, rarely translated into sustained global pressure on Pakistan. Today, however, India’s strategy has evolved into a more proactive and outward-facing campaign.
By placing cross-border terrorism at the centre of international discourse, New Delhi is no longer content with short-term tactical responses. it seeks a deeper shift in how the world views the infrastructure of terror rooted in Pakistan.
The current message is unmistakable: India is not pursuing armed conflict but is determined to defend its sovereignty. It sees itself as a status quo power resisting the provocations of a neighbour that continues to challenge established borders through non-state proxies when conventional means fail.
The message is being clearly conveyed: India is not seeking conflict with Pakistan. “We are a status quo power,” said Tharoor. “But they are not. They covet Indian territory and when they cannot take it conventionally, they resort to terrorism. That is unacceptable.”
Domestic unity
The timing and composition of these delegations also reflect a savvy use of domestic unity as a tool for international persuasion. The presence of opposition voices like Tharoor and Salman Khurshid strengthens India’s message abroad: that its anti-terror campaign is not the whim of one government, but a settled national consensus.
Moreover, the show of unity across religious and political lines within India after the Pahalgam attack, has bolstered the credibility of India's message.
The lead of anti-terrorism and killing of tourists in Kashmir was not taken lightly by the population of J&K. They poured on the streets to protest and speak loudly against terrorism, demanding justice and punishment for the guilty. Civilian population of all shades condemned the attack in unison, denying terrorists the sectarian backlash they hoped to provoke.
India’s global campaign following the Pahalgam attack may well be remembered as the moment it pivoted to a more assertive diplomatic posture on terrorism. While success at the UN is far from guaranteed, the push to isolate Pakistan and label their proxies as terrorist organisations reflects a longer-term effort to rewrite global norms on terrorism and accountability.
The Indian delegations may be speaking in different capitals, but they are echoing one consistent message: terrorism is a shared global threat, and the time for selective condemnation is over.
