Firm on countering Pakistan-backed terror, Centre's multi-party delegations begin leaving for designated countries

New Delhi: As multi-party delegations started leaving on Wednesday, officials said India will explain to countries how Pakistan sponsored terrorism has impacted it and that they may not be putting adequate pressure on Islamabad while asking New Delhi to restrain while responding to threats.

A nine-member delegation led by JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha left for Japan while an eight member team led by Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde headed to the UAE.

The Jha-led team, which has Aparajita Sarangi, Abhishek Banerjee, Brij Lal, John Brittas, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, Salman Khurshid and former French Ambassador Mohan Kumar as members, will be visiting South Korea (May 24), Singapore (May 27), Indonesia (May 28) and Malaysia (May 31).

Shinde-led delegation with Bansuri Swaraj, ET Mohammed Basheer, Atul Garg, Sasmit Patra, Manan Kumar, SS Ahluwalia and former Japanese Ambassador Sujan Chinoy as members will also be visiting Congo (May 24), Sierra Leone (May 28) and Liberia (May 31).

A third delegation led by DMK's Kanimozhi and with Rajeev Rai, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Brijesh Chowta, PC Gupta, Ashok Mittal, former Nepal Ambassador Manjeev Puri and former French Ambassador Jawed Ashraf as members will leave on Thursday. Their first stop would be Russia and will also visit Slovenia (May 25), Greece (May 27), Latvia (May 29) and Spain (May 31).

Four other delegations, including those to the United States, France and the United Kingdom, would leave between May 23 and 25.

Officials said these delegations would tell their host countries that the world asks India to restrain while responding to terrorist attacks but is not equally vocal when it comes to Pakistan, which is behind such actions. They will also inform them that India’s retaliatory strike following the Pahalgam terror strike was aimed at terrorist camps and Pakistan’s military installation became a target only after Islamabad attacked its civilian population.

If questions on US President Donald Trump’s claims on mediating a ceasefire arise, officials said the delegations would dispute such assertions, as publicly done by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). They are also expecting questions on the Indus Water Treaty and India would be explaining that it has been seeking a renegotiation keeping in mind the changed scenario with Pakistan trying to bleed India.

Against the backdrop of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) favouring an international probe, officials said Pakistan’s dismal record in responding to requests for action against terrorists, will be highlighted. The delegations will also inform about Pakistan not acceding to requests for handing over terrorists involved in strikes in India. Even after allowing Pakistan’s ISI to visit Pathankot after a terror strike, officials said, Pakistan has not acted on any input.

Sources said there would be a special emphasis on convincing the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee to designate the TRF or the Lashkar-e-Taiba backed The Resistance Force, which is believed to be behind the Pahalgam terror strike, a terrorist organisation. Already, India has twice provided evidence and now would be providing more against the backdrop of the Pahalgam attack.