BRUSSELS — The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation from India, led by senior
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, held a series of high-level engagements in Belgium
with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), emphasising India's resolute
stance against cross-border terrorism.
The delegation visited the European Parliament and met
with MEPs from the Delegation for Relations with India, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs (AFET), and the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE).
During the meetings, the Indian team provided a detailed
briefing on the persistent issue of cross-border terrorism targeting India,
particularly highlighting the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and India's
measured and strategic response through Operation Sindoor.
The discussions at the Parliament also revolved around
strengthening India-EU strategic cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts,
while broader themes such as high-level diplomatic engagements and deeper
parliamentary exchanges were also addressed.
According to the Indian Embassy, "Taking India's
strong message against terrorism to the world, members of All-Party Delegation
met with Members of European Parliament (MEPs) and discussed combating
terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, global peace, and deepening of
India-EU ties."
The European Union unequivocally condemned the brutal
attack in Pahalgam and expressed solidarity with India.
"The EU side was briefed about the heinous Pahalgam
terrorist attack and the calibrated and targeted response of India through
Operation Sindoor, giving the message of zero tolerance to terrorism. MEPs
expressed their solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack,"
the embassy added.
The Indian delegation also engaged with some of Brussels'
prominent think tanks and strategic experts, exchanging views on the global
terror landscape and New Delhi's expectations from the EU in tackling such
threats.
These discussions further reinforced shared views on the
necessity of a coordinated global response to terrorism.
"During our visit to Brussels, my colleagues from
the all-party delegation and I engaged in a comprehensive discussion on the
scourge of terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism targeting India. We
deliberated on India's counter-terrorism initiatives, notably including
Operation Sindoor, with prominent think tanks in the region. Our interaction
underscored a unified and unambiguous stance of zero tolerance towards
terrorism," Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a post on X.
The nine-member delegation includes a diverse political
representation: Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Daggubati Purandeswari (BJP),
Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT), Gulam Ali Khatana (BJP), Amar Singh
(Congress), Samik Bhattacharya (BJP), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), former Union
Minister M.J. Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran.
Furthermore, the delegates interacted with members of the
Indian diaspora who expressed their deep solidarity with the victims of recent
terrorist attacks and backed India's strong and principled stance against terrorism
and its zero-tolerance policy.
The Indian parliamentarians underscored the vital role of
the diaspora in amplifying India's voice on the global stage.
On Wednesday, the delegation commenced its programme by
paying floral tribute at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Embassy -- a
solemn reaffirmation of India's enduring commitment to the principles of peace,
non-violence, and universal brotherhood.
After concluding visits to France, Italy, Denmark, and
the UK, the Indian delegation is in Belgium as a part of India's global
diplomatic outreach campaign to highlight the significance of Operation Sindoor
and the continued fight against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.