India has celebrated the Rafale fighter jets purchased from France as not only cutting-edge military assets but as long-term symbols of strong strategic and diplomatic relations between the two countries. This was expressed during a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday with a visiting French Senate delegation.
High-level interaction was done between French parliament delegation headed by Senate Vice Chair Catherine Dumas and members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
The French delegation conveyed deep condolences to India following the Pahalgam terror attack and reaffirmed Paris's unstinted support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism.
Among the French representatives were Senators Hugues Saury, Marie-Arlette Carlotti, Philippe Folliot, and France's Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou. They all expressed unyielding support for India's anti-terror campaign, especially after the recent terror attack.
Addressing the media persons after the meeting, Tharoor explained that the trip of French parliamentarians was planned prior to the April 22 Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, but they decided to proceed with their trip in a display of solidarity with India.
"The French visitors very clearly and unequivocally spoke words of support for India in the tragic events that occurred in Pahalgam and thereafter. They employed the French term 'soutien' — support — and that was greatly appreciated," Tharoor said.
During the exchange, Indian delegates underlined that the Rafale fighter aircraft, which are being provided by France, represent much more than just their status as military hardware. They now represent the strong foundation of friendship and strategic trust that characterizes the bilateral relationship. This was a message echoed by senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was also present at the session.
Prasad, who will be leading a multi-party delegation to France and other Western European countries under the "Operation Sindoor Outreach" campaign, was presented with the French delegation by Tharoor. Prasad referred to the Rafale fighter jets as an expression of a strong partnership based on the common democratic values and mutual security interests.
The session had active participation from some members of the Standing Committee on External Affairs such as D.K. Aruna, Satnam Singh Sandhu, Arun Govil, Vijay Baghel, Brijender Singh Ola, Mithesh Patel, R.P.N. Singh, Praniti Shinde, and Kiran Chaudhary.
On a day when India's global push to highlight Pakistan's sponsorship of terror is gathering steam, the visit of France's Senate has been seen as a strong diplomatic message. It highlights France's uniform backing for India — not merely in words, but in a commitment to combating terror across all avenues.
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