Pahalgam Attack: Shashi Tharoor, Supriya Sule Among 7 MPs Chosen to Lead Indian Delegations Abroad

In a strong diplomatic gesture after the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 individuals, India is to send a number of parliamentary delegations to various parts of the world. The effort aims to highlight Pakistan's supposed role in the attack and to emphasize India's adamant opposition to terrorism.

These delegations will include Members of Parliament (MPs) from different political parties, along with experienced diplomats and prominent political personalities, making up seven different groups. Some of those who will be leading these groups include Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, JD(U)'s Sanjay Kumar Jha, DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena's Shrikant Eknath Shinde.

The All-Party Delegations will visit strategically significant nations, including some members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), later this month, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said.

"In the backdrop of 'Operation Sindoor' and India's relentless war against cross-border terrorism, seven All-Party Delegations will visit important friendly countries, including UN Security Council members later this month," said a ministry statement.

The ministry also reiterated the objective of these visits: "The All-Party Delegations will reflect India's national consensus and unyielding stance in dealing with terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They would take to the world the nation's firm message of zero-tolerance towards terrorism."

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju also seconded this in a post on X as follows, "In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united. Seven All-Party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations, bearing our common message of zero tolerance to terrorism. A strong expression of national unity beyond politics, and transcending differences."

Some of the countries slated to host these delegations include the United States, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, and South Africa. The missions are targeted at showing a concerted effort against terrorism and lobbying for international pressure on Pakistan.

Some of the other MPs who are likely to be part of the delegations are BJP's Anurag Thakur, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, and Tejasvi Surya; TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu; Congress MP Manish Tewari; and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi.

Sources indicate that this diplomatic initiative follows Islamabad's new push to internationalize the Kashmir issue, in addition to recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump. New Delhi still maintains that Kashmir is fundamentally a bilateral issue.

This is a significant first for the Modi government—using a large group of MPs as diplomatic representatives to push back Pakistan's international narrative. The delegations are being asked to carry a twofold message: to define the details of the Pahalgam attack and to describe that 'Operation Sindoor' targeted militant installations in Pakistan-occupied territories without harming civilians.