Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Multi-party delegations will start heading to their destinations from Wednesday to brief about Pakistan sponsored cross-border terrorism, as India embarks on a massive international campaign against its neighbour following the Pahalgam terror attack, 'Operation Sindoor' and subsequent ceasefire announcement.
Sources said the government has chosen the countries for briefing keeping in mind that Pakistan is set to start chairing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in July 2025 as part of its two-year non-permanent membership term.
India is sending delegations to all members of the UNSC, including permanent members US, UK, France and Russia, and nine non-permanent members, whose membership is ending either this year or next year. However, India is not sending delegations to permanent members China and Pakistan.
Sources said Sierra Leone was chosen as an immediate destination for the delegation because of its membership in UNSC, despite it not having a mission in New Delhi. India is also sending delegations to five other countries that will become members of the UNSC in the near future.
The OIC (Organisation of Islamic Countries) countries like UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were chosen keeping their influence on Pakistan in mind.
Sources said the delegations are being sent to impress upon countries on India's stance, as Pakistan will try to use the UN pace to target India. There are also indications that a second phase of similar visits by multi-party delegations could take place in the future if a need is felt by the government.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed three of the seven delegations, which are headed to various countries on Wednesday and Thursday. JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha-led delegation will be leaving for Japan on Wednesday and subsequently visit South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia while Shrikant Shinde-led team too will leave for UAE followed by Congo, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The Kanimozhi-led delegation will leave on Thursday and their first stop would be Russia followed by Slovenia, Greece, Latvia and Spain.
The MPs and leaders who are part of these three delegations raised several questions on a variety of issues and sought clarifications, including on Operation Sindoor, US role, Pakistan and other related issues.
Sources said CPI(M) MP John Brittas referred to a narrative spread by Pakistan citing domestic politics in the context of minorities and said their response should be uniform. Misri told the delegation members that protection of minorities is ingrained in the Indian system.
Misri told the MPs about Pakistan’s earlier behaviour of ignoring evidence and doing little when India presented it with facts following other terror attacks while referring to Islamabad’s offer for an independent probe into Pahalgam strike.
"Our message to world leaders will be that enough is enough and that Pakistan has acted like a thief asked to probe his own crime whenever India has in the past trusted its words on acting against terrorism," Jha told reporters after the meeting.
Misri also said that Indian action was targeted against terror sites in Pakistan and Pak-occupied Kashmir, and not against military installations and civilians and it was only after Pakistan's attempts to attack Indian military installations and the civilian population that India hit back.
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said there was "no interference by anyone" in connection with the ceasefire announcement and when such things happen, different people try to send a message.