INDIA’S MESSAGE

 

INDIA has shown exceptional unity across sections in the war against Pakistan’s terror tactics. The country was fully behind the Government as the Opposition parties, too, shunned local politics to stand with the Centre on Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack. A collective grief shaped India’s military and diplomatic response to the brutal killing of 26 tourists in Baisaran by Pakistansponsored terrorists. The baton has now been passed on to the seven all-party delegations set to travel around the world to call out Pakistan’s bluff on terrorism and expose it as the epicentre of global terror. The diplomatic offensive is bound to cause a major upheaval in international politics as India seeks to isolate Pakistan. The onus is now on the delegations, first of which led by Janata Dal (United) leader Mr Sanjay Kumar Jha has headed to the Eastern nations including Japan.

 

Six more teams consisting leaders from various political parties will travel to other parts of the world with the primary objective of exposing Pakistan’s double standards on terrorism. It is an open fact the Pakistan nurtures and propagates terrorism as a State policy and then plays victim. The Pahalgam terror attack has totally exposed Pakistan and it is the right time for India to apprise nations that New Delhi has a message for the world on terror spreading its wings if its perpetrators are not restrained with an iron hand. The Centre deserves wholehearted praise for taking the entire political community in the country on board to send across India’s message on zero tolerance for terrorism. It is a prudent move to show the world India’s unity in diversity and make a bold statement that national security is paramount for every individual and party despite having different political affiliations and ideologies. Times of crisis call for such bold steps asserting India’s strength as one big family.

 

The Centre has taken a leaf out of the 1994 decision when then Prime Minister Mr. Narasimha Rao sent a delegation to the United Nations led by then Leader of Opposition Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee. The delegation also comprised leaders from various parties including Mr. Farooq Abdullah of National Conference and Mr. Salman Khurshid of the ruling Congress party. The delegation had the task cut out to defeat Pakistan’s motion on condition of Muslims in Kashmir. India checkmated that effort by assigning an Opposition leader, a Kashmiri leader and Muslim leaders to represent Government stand on the issue. It simply stumped Pakistan and also the Organisation of Islamic Countries as Islamabad had to finally withdraw the motion due to lack of support from its own allies. It was a major diplomatic victory for India, crafted by a united front of political leaders. The latest diplomatic offensive against Pakistan is a tad different but with a similar motive of putting forth India’s resolve to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations. The Centre has done well to pick leaders with ability to decipher global mood and having insight to influence the global community on Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism.

 

The delegations have been briefed by the External Affairs Ministry but it is expected of the representatives to chip in with their own resources to uphold India’s stand. Rising above party politics is the basic mandate of the delegations. Given the prevailing mood in the country, politics is set to be kept out of national duty. But there is also a chance of sections back home trying to play truant for their leaders representing the Government. A case in point is the Congress stand on the inclusion of Mr. Shashi Tharoor in the delegation. The party clearly entered a narrow lane by declaring that the fine orator and suave diplomat was not its choice. It was a pathetic behaviour in times of a national crisis. Hope the Congress does not play spoilsport.