‘Global resonance of India’s stand against Pakistan terror’: First to return, Panda team briefs Jaishankar

“We briefed the EAM about our personal experiences, underlining that India’s growing economic might and position in the global order, secured by PM Narendra Modi’s diplomatic push during his tenure and visits to several nations are key when it comes to the world’s decision to stand with us as partners both in international trade as well as on the issue of zero tolerance against terrorism,” a member said.

“When we briefed foreign governments, we spoke about international agencies, such as the UN itself, having drawn attention to Pakistan’s age-old links with terrorists and terror networks. This was followed by briefings about the precise targeting of terror infrastructure by Indian defence forces on Pakistani soil. Every country we visited had already issued statements condemning the Pahalgam terror incident – these were reiterated by them in person to us,” the delegate added.

The Modi government constituted seven multi-party teams comprising leaders, MPs and ex-diplomats, tasking them with the mission to visit a slew of countries to convey India’s message in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.

The Panda delegation was the first one to return Tuesday morning.

The team led by DMK MP Kanimozhi, which travelled to Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia and Russia, arrived in the afternoon, while the delegation led by JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha, that visited Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore, is scheduled to return on Tuesday night. Other teams are expected to return over the next few days.

Sources said all delegations would meet Jaishankar following their return to give him their feedbacks. The leader of each team would compile a report for submission to the EAM with inputs from all their members.

Panda said it was a “very successful” visit as all the countries visited by his delegation have taken a clear stand against terrorism. “It was a very successful visit; the four countries we travelled to… have taken steps to combat terrorism and their stand is also clear. They understand India. India’s history is such that we do not need to provide justification; we are a nation that, for thousands of years, have sheltered the persecuted from across the world – the country of ahimsa,” he said.

“We had gone to provide facts and figures about the Pahalgam terror attack and the (Indo-Pak) war that followed afterward in which India set a ‘new normal’ to the effect that terror-related violence will be retaliated to and that too precisely and in a measured way,” Panda said.

He said his team also detailed measures against Islamabad, such as economic sanctions, restrictions on trade and visas, and suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with the objective that Pakistan change its “wrong policies” and stop its “open support to terrorism”.

“Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji, over the last 11 years, has developed very good relationships with the leaderships of these nations and has been bestowed with their respective and highest civilian honours. Given India’s burgeoning economic growth, all these nations view India as an opportunity and want to stand with us not only against terrorism, but on other fronts as well,” he said.

After her delegation’s return, Kanimozhi told the media that during their interactions abroad, they underlined how the roots of any terrorist attack, not only in India but also in other parts of the world, have been traced back to Pakistan.

“In many such cases when there have been terrorist attacks they have been (found) to be trained and sponsored in Pakistan…this is something we wanted to make people understand,” she said adding that the composition of the delegations comprising leaders from both the ruling BJP-led NDA and the Opposition was itself “a very strong message to the world”.

“People were surprised that the delegation was led by an Opposition party MP. So they also understood the very strong message that India stood as one and wanted to end terrorism not just in India but across the world,” Kanimozhi also said, adding that the response they got was “very positive”.