India Sends Global Delegations to Push Anti-Terror Message Amidst Contested Claims Against Pakistan

India Sends Global Delegations to Push Anti-Terror Message Amidst Contested Claims Against Pakistan

RMN News Story Highlights

• India dispatches seven all-party delegations to 32 countries and the EU to promote its anti-terrorism stance following the Pahalgam attack and “Operation Sindoor”.
• India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack without presenting evidence, while Pakistan denied the claims and proposed an independent investigation, which India refused.
• International bodies like the IMF and FATF have not substantiated India’s claims of Pakistan currently supporting terrorism, with Pakistan removed from the FATF Grey List in 2022 and receiving an IMF bailout in 2025.
• Critics allege the Modi government is leveraging anti-Pakistan rhetoric for domestic political gain, particularly to consolidate Hindu nationalist support, amid accusations of lacking evidence and refusing independent probes.

By Rakesh Raman
New Delhi | May 18, 2025

The Indian government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (May 17) released the list of seven all-party delegations that will travel to various countries to convey India’s message of zero-tolerance against terrorism and Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7 after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam last month. The seven delegations comprise 59 members, including 31 political leaders from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and 20 politicians from other parties, and will be assisted by former diplomats.

These delegations are led by politicians from across the political spectrum, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Baijayant Jay Panda and Ravi Shankar Prasad, Congress’s Shashi Tharoor, Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Sanjay Jha, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule. They are scheduled to visit 32 countries and the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, with their tour expected to begin on May 23.

The delegations’ mission follows the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in 26 fatalities, and India’s subsequent launch of “Operation Sindoor” against Pakistan. India accused Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam attack without presenting evidence.

However, Pakistan denied any role and proposed an independent investigation, potentially under the auspices of the United Nations or with US involvement, into the incident. The Modi administration has consistently refused to allow impartial scrutiny and rejected Pakistan’s proposal for an independent investigation.

Critics argue that concrete evidence linking Pakistan to terror activities within India remains absent. International bodies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have also not substantiated India’s claims of Pakistan currently supporting terrorism.

While acknowledging that Pakistan may have harboured militant groups decades ago during the Soviet-Afghan War, reportedly at the behest of the United States, the situation is said to have drastically changed. Pakistan was removed from the FATF’s Grey List in 2022, suggesting significant progress in countering terrorism financing and money laundering and effectively dismantling much of its terrorist infrastructure. Furthermore, the IMF recently approved a $1 billion bailout package for Pakistan in May 2025, which is seen by some as indicating a level of confidence in Pakistan that contradicts India’s narrative.

Accusations have been made that the Modi regime and certain sections of the Indian media, allegedly influenced by the government, consistently label Pakistan a “terrorist state” without presenting verifiable evidence. This branding is argued to serve a political agenda, particularly to consolidate Hindu nationalist support for Modi’s BJP. The codenaming of India’s May 7, 2025 action as “Operation Sindoor,” referencing a significant Hindu symbol, is cited as an example of the regime’s attempts to connect military actions with Hindu sentiments.

Prime Minister Modi delivered a speech on May 12, claiming India had “taught Pakistan a lesson”. However, this narrative is described as contentious, with reports suggesting significant Indian losses and alleged Pakistani dominance in the battlefield. Critics allege that Modi has a history of making “blatant lies” that largely go unchallenged domestically due to a weakened political opposition, allegedly subservient state institutions, and persecution of dissent.

Analysts suggest that leveraging anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim sentiment is a calculated effort by Modi to consolidate support among majority Hindu voters, particularly where traditional electoral malpractices might be insufficient. The prevalence of election fraud in India is highlighted as a concern in this context. The BJP also announced plans for “Tiranga Yatras” – political marches – following India’s strikes, claiming to have destroyed terror camps in Pakistan, a claim Pakistan denies, asserting Indian strikes hit civilian localities.

India’s acceptance of a US-brokered ceasefire, with President Donald Trump intervening, has been framed by critics as a sign of Modi’s weakness and a departure from India’s traditional stance that disputes with Pakistan are strictly bilateral. This situation has led to calls for further international intervention, including suggestions for President Trump to mediate the larger Kashmir dispute to end alleged persecution and restore democracy.

The Modi regime’s own human rights record and alleged involvement in activities beyond its borders have also faced scrutiny. A 2023 BBC documentary, “India: The Modi Question,” highlighted Modi’s past, and the United States previously revoked his visa due to alleged involvement in criminal activities. More recently, India under Modi has been accused of transnational repression, including murder allegations in Canada and the United States. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has repeatedly recommended designating India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to its egregious record on religious freedom.

Amidst escalating India-Pakistan tensions, a petition has been launched urging the UN Security Council (UNSC) to intervene and de-escalate the conflict to protect innocent civilians. The absence of concrete evidence supporting India’s claims against Pakistan, coupled with international assessments and India’s refusal to engage in independent investigations, underscores the need for an evidence-based approach to regional security, as rhetoric without proof risks further destabilizing the volatile region.

By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.