Shashi Tharoor, Ravi Shankar Prasad part of 7 all-party delegation to brief nations on India's message against terrorism

An all-party delegation, comprising seven leaders from the Opposition and the ruling NDA (National Democratic Alliance), will visit other countries to send "India's strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism."

In a press release on Saturday, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said, “In the context of Operation Sindoor and India's continued fight against cross-border terrorism, seven All-Party Delegations are set to visit key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council later this month.”

"The All-Party Delegations will project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. They would carry forth to the world the country's strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism," the release stated.

"Members of Parliament from different parties, prominent political personalities, and distinguished diplomats will be part of each delegation," it said.

Who are the leaders parts of all-party delegation?

While four of them are from the ruling NDA, three are from the opposition INDIA bloc. The following Members of Parliament will lead the seven delegations:

1. Shashi Tharoor, Congress
2. Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP
3. Sanjay Kumar Jha, JDU
4. Baijayant Panda, BJP
5. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, DMK
6. Supriya Sule, NCP
7. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena

Each delegation may visit around five countries, sources told news agency PTI. The tour is expected to last 10 days, commencing on May 23. The parliamentarians' groups are likely to visit several key world capitals, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Japan, ANI reported.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju posted on X, saying, "In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united. Seven All-Party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying our shared message of zero tolerance to terrorism. A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences," Rijiju posted on X.

This is the first time that the Centre will depute MPs from multiple parties to present India's stance on Kashmir and cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is leading the coordination efforts for this international tour, marking a significant step in India's diplomatic outreach.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India's precision strikes in Pakistan and PoJK on May 7 killed over 100 terrorists.

In the four-day conflict that ensued on India's north and northwestern frontier, Pakistan targeted civilian as well as military infrastructure in India. In retaliation, India struck military infrastructure in key areas such as Chaklala, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Jacobabad, Sargodha, among others.

After the conflict de-escalated, Prime Minister Narendra said that Operation Sindoor set a new normal against terrorism. As part of a three-pronged doctrine, India will retaliate against terrorist attacks on its own terms, not tolerate nuclear blackmail, and not differentiate between terrorists and the governments harbouring them, Modi said.

Indian officials have said the Pakistani forces lost 35-40 personnel, while India lost five soldiers during the conflict.

India's stance is that terror and talks cannot happen together, terror and trade cannot go together, and that blood and water cannot flow together, indicating the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 will remain in abeyance.

Putting the Indus Water Treaty, an agreement on sharing the water of the tributaries of the Indus river, in abeyance, was India's first diplomatic move one day after the Pahalgam terror attack.

As part of its broader diplomatic campaign, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar held discussion with Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. “Good conversation with acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening. Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack,” Jaishankar said in a social media post on Friday.

India further raised concerns on global platforms, calling out the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its release of funds to Pakistan.