New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met with members of seven multi-party delegations who had travelled across the globe to highlight India’s stance against terrorism, especially under the ambit of Operation Sindoor. Commending their collective efforts, the Prime Minister said the initiative sent a powerful and united message to the international community—including Pakistan—about India’s firm resolve against terror.
Lauding the rare political unity, which included opposition leaders, Modi said, “Our unity in solidarity was lauded by one and all.” He emphasized that the outreach helped communicate India’s decades-long battle against cross-border terrorism to countries that were previously unaware or misinformed. “Aapne bahut mahatvapoorn kaam kiya hai (You did a very important job),” he added.
The Prime Minister specifically praised the delegation that visited Europe, acknowledging the unique challenges posed by the large Pakistani diaspora in the region. He also recognised the efforts of the team that visited the United States, appreciating their resolve amid difficulties.
Modi took a detailed interest in the experiences shared by delegation members and affirmed that such diplomatic outreach must continue in a structured manner. “I agree that such interactions need to happen regularly, and I will institutionalise it,” he assured.
The Prime Minister also revealed that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) had approached India for a ceasefire, leading to India’s decision to honour it. However, he underscored that this conflict is not a mere “proxy war” but a real and direct threat.
Members of the delegations reported significant interest from other nations not just about security concerns, but also about investment and trade opportunities with India. Many pointed out that even Muslim-majority and West Asian countries showed support for India’s anti-terrorism stance. Delegates noted that youth in those regions were strongly opposed to terrorism being associated with Islam. “Muslims believe that Islam cannot be hijacked, and terrorism cannot happen in its name,” a delegate told the Prime Minister.
Reiterating India’s position, PM Modi said, “Our fight is against terrorism, not against any country. But the time has come when nations supporting terror and terrorism itself cannot be seen separately.”
Delegates shared interesting moments from their travels, including repeated questions about Kashmir’s importance to India, with some foreigners even speculating if it contained valuable resources like mines. Modi mentioned one such exchange during the meeting.
Members also asked whether the Prime Minister had been following their international engagements. Modi responded that he was being regularly updated. “I was getting constant feedback about the delegations, and my team was monitoring it throughout,” he said.
Adding a personal touch, the Prime Minister referred to Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde by his nickname “Bhau” and addressed former Union Minister SS Ahluwalia as “Guruji,” drawing laughter and warmth among the attendees. He also enquired about the personal well-being of some members, including Priyanka Chaturvedi’s father and Milind Deora’s health condition.
The delegations, consisting of 55 members—ranging from Members of Parliament to former diplomats and ministers—were dispatched to 38 countries. They were led by senior leaders including Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda (BJP), Srikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), K Kanimozhi (DMK), and Sanjay Jha (JD-U).
