In a significant diplomatic initiative, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been appointed to head an all-party delegation that will take India’s firm anti-terror stance to the international stage. The move comes in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, India’s cross-border military response to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The government has chosen seven Members of Parliament from various political parties, including those from the Opposition, to spearhead a message of unity and zero-tolerance against terrorism across key nations. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju emphasized this initiative as a demonstration of “national unity above politics.”
Congress nominates four MPs for global outreach, Tharoor not among them
Despite leading the all-party delegation overseas, Shashi Tharoor’s name was not part of the four-member list submitted by the Congress on May 16. Rahul Gandhi recommended Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, and Raja Brar, bypassing Tharoor. His appointment was instead announced directly by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Political unity for a national cause
The delegation, led by Shashi Tharoor, includes DMK’s Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Supriya Sule from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), both representing the Opposition. BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, along with NDA allies Sanjay Kumar Jha of JDU and Shrikant Shinde of Shiv Sena, will also lead separate groups.
All seven delegations will soon begin visits to global partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council. The mission: to share India’s strong position and consensus against terrorism, as stated by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Tharoor, a seasoned diplomat-turned-politician, expressed pride in being entrusted with this responsibility. “When national interest is involved and my services are required, I will not be found wanting,” he stated on social media.
Expanding diplomatic footprint
The all-party outreach is expected to include leaders such as AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Manish Tewari, CPI(M)’s John Brittas, DPAP’s Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Priyanka Chaturvedi, BJD’s Sasmit Patra, and AAP’s Vikramjeet Sawhney.
These leaders are likely to travel to multiple countries over a 10-day diplomatic tour, aiming to highlight India’s proactive counter-terrorism efforts and reinforce global cooperation against extremist violence.
Operation Sindoor aftermath and ceasefire
The outreach follows Operation Sindoor, carried out on May 7, which saw the Indian armed forces strike nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was a direct retaliation to the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives.
The offensive led to the destruction of terror infrastructure linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Hizbul Mujahideen. More than 100 terrorists were reportedly neutralized.
Subsequently, tensions escalated briefly with retaliatory missile and drone activity by Pakistan, which were intercepted by Indian forces. A ceasefire agreement was brokered on May 10, bringing the four-day exchange to a halt.