India Pakistan News LIVE updates: Civil defence drill, Operation Shield, postponed in Rajasthan, Gujarat

Civil Defence Exercise "Operation Shield" which was planned to be held on 29th May 2025 in states bordering Pakistan postponed due to administrative reasons in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Chandigarh too postpones the Exercise.

Haryana Govt requests state officials to plan and organise the Exercise at 5 pm tomorrow.

An all-party parliamentary delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda Wednesday met Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir and underscored India's strong position against terrorism, including zero tolerance and a new normal approach against it.

The delegation also visited the Shura Council, a governmental body with regulatory authority, and met Deputy Speaker Mishaal Al-Sulami and Maj Gen Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the India-Saudi Friendship Committee, and conveyed India's strong position against terrorism.

During the meeting with Al-Jubeir, the delegation "appreciated Saudi stand against terrorism and underscored India’s strong position against terrorism, including zero tolerance & new normal approach against terrorism," the Embassy of India here said in a post on X.

The two sides discussed relations between Saudi Arabia and India, exploring ways to strengthen them further as well as reviewing topics of mutual interest, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.

The delegation also met Mushabab Al-Qahtani, DG, Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies and conveyed India's unwavering commitment to combat terrorism in its all forms. The delegation also discussed India-Saudi strategic ties.

After concluding their visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Group 4 delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, en route to Sierra Leone, stopped over in Lome, Togo. During the transit, they held discussions on Pakistan-based terrorism and Operation Sindoor at the airport lounge.

BJP's Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra told ANI that the delegation underscored India's need for Operation Sindoor and recounted the conversations they had about Pakistan during their visit.

"We are telling them why we had to conduct Operation Sindoor and about Pakistan's terrorism. But it is a good experience to know about the people of Africa, their culture, and language. They are good people and this is a really good experience. The conversations we had with their diplomats, heads of states, and ministers regarding Pakistan, they heard us with concentration. They had come prepared on the subject matter. They were curious to know why our relations with Pakistan are deteriorating, they knew that Pakistan is a terrorist country but when we made things clear, they heard us well. Their response was good, that they would raise this issue in the UNSC and the African Union. We felt that they would raise this issue in their National Assembly and bring a resolution."

“It is hereby intimated that the civil defence exercise "Operation Shield", which was planned to be held on 29.05.2025 is hereby postponed due to administrative reasons. It is requested that necessary directions to all the controllers of civil defence and other stakeholders, may be issued accordingly. Next dates for the exercise shall be issued subsequently:” Gujarat information department

"It is hereby intimated that the Civil Defence Exercise "Operation Shield", which was planned to be held on 29.05.2025 is hereby postponed due to administrative reasons. It is requested that necessary directions to all the Controllers of Civil Defence and other stakeholders, may be issued accordingly. Next dates for the exercise shall be issued subsequently": Rajasthan Home Department

Additional chief secretary to Haryana government, home department writes to all Deputy Commissioners and all CPs and SPs of the state - "Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has decided to hold 2nd Civil Defence Exercise "Operation Shield" in all the districts of States/UTs adjoining Western border of the Country on 29.05.2025. You are, therefore, requested to plan and organize the Civil Defence Exercise "Operation Shield" on 29.05.2025 at 17.00 Hrs onwards in your district & send an Action Taken Report (ATR) directly to the Commandant General, Home Guards and Director Civil Defence, Haryana immediately."

India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism was loudly hailed in South Africa after an all-party delegation addressed an audience of over 350 expatriates and some local Indians here, citing Pakistan as the sponsor of terrorism. While speaking at the event on Tuesday evening, barely two hours after landing in Johannesburg, the delegation called on Indian nationals in South Africa and the local community to join India's unapologetic fight on global terror.

Indonesian officials on Wednesday supported India's zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism as an all-party parliamentary delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha arrived here with a mission to convey New Delhi's unequivocal stance against the menace. The delegation met with Muhammad Husein Fadlulloh, Vice-Chairperson of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, and Muhammad Rofiqi, S.H., Chairperson of the Indonesia-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, to sensitise them on India's strong commitment against terrorism, the Indian Embassy in Jakarta posted on X.

"Indonesian side conveyed that they condemn terrorism and believe in dialogue for solving problems, not terrorism as it is against humanity, supporting India's zero-tolerance approach," it said.

The delegation arrived in Jakarta earlier in the day as part of India's diplomatic outreach on Operation Sindoor.

Launching a scathing attack on Pakistan for promoting terrorism, former Union Minister of State, External Affairs and member of the all-party delegation to European countries, MJ Akbar said that Pakistan has a "big misconception" that terrorism will succeed in the present time.

MJ Akbar, who is part of the Ravi Shankar Prasad-led all-party delegation to France and other nations, highlighted that for the first time after the Second World War, state-sponsored terrorism started in Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan sent 5000 terrorists to Kashmir on October 22, 1947 and chose the path of terrorism when issues could have been sorted through talks. MJ Akbar also hailed PM Narendra Modi, who believed that the "war" he had begun against terrorism would ensure the safety of India and the whole world. The former MoS External Affairs also highlighted that the world should understand the threat of terrorism and its consequences.

The Indian Army organised a free medical camp in Uri, Baramulla, for people impacted by recent ceasefire violations. Over 500 residents from villages along the Line of Control (LOC) in Uri sector of Baramulla district received free medical attention.

A dedicated team from the Pir Panjal Brigade of the Rustam Battalion, comprising two medical officers and a psychologist, provided free consultations, basic treatment, mental health support, and awareness sessions on hygiene and preventive care at Nambla Village, Uri.

Panama Assembly President, Dana Castaneda on Tuesday (local time) expressed solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism after she held a meeting with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor-led delegation.

Speaking with ANI, Assembly President Castaneda said, "We very clearly understand the message that they have conveyed. Panama wants to stand with India in this campaign for peace, and we hope that we can defeat terrorism. We have spoken about these issues in detail, and this will help us understand each other better in India's fight against terrorism,"

Congress MP Anand Sharma, member of the all-party delegation led by NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, emphasised India's restrained and targeted response to terrorism.

During an interaction with the Indian community in Johannesburg, Sharma stated that Indian forces targeted only terrorist headquarters, but when Pakistan retaliated by attacking Indian air bases, India had to respond forcefully.

Sharma also highlighted Pakistan's role in harboring terrorists, saying, "We have the terrorists who had attacked Mumbai. Finally, one of them has been extradited to India. The world knows that Osama bin Laden was found in Abbottabad, Pakistan... Indian security forces and the government had acted with utmost restraint. We had only targeted the headquarters of the terror groups. It was unfortunate that Pakistan did not pay heed; instead of taking action, they attacked Indian air bases, and there had to be a forceful Indian retaliation," Sharma said.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading a delegation to Panama, on Tuesday (local time) slammed Pakistan over their continuous attack on Indian territory through terrorism.

Addressing the Indian community in Panama, Tharoor said, "Unfortunately, our desire to just be left alone is not reciprocated by our friends on the other side of the border. They have chosen repeatedly to attack us because they believe that they want territory which they do not control, which we control. It is part of the sovereign borders of the United Indian, and we are not going to give it to them even if we have to pay the price that we have repeatedly been paid. "

Tharoor highlighted that India has suffered attack after attack for almost four decades and that it is not acceptable for us to continue to bear the pain.

JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha strongly criticized Pakistan for fostering terrorism, stating that the country’s entire system is rooted in it. While addressing the Indian diaspora in Singapore on Wednesday (local time), Jha remarked, “All political parties in India are united on this issue. We are reaching out to the global community to expose the truth about Pakistan and its Army. The entire system in Pakistan revolves around terrorism — their methods, their politics — everything centers on equipping, sponsoring, training terrorists, and sending them across the border.”

“What took place on April 22 was a heinous act of terror that besmirched everything Kashmir stands for. While nothing we do will compensate for that, the J&K govt will build a memorial to our guests who were killed that day,” Omar said.

An all-party delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, arrived in Panama City for a three-day visit after concluding their visit to Guyana. The delegation will be in Panama from May 27-29.

During the visit, the Members of Parliament will be interacting with Panamanian leadership and key interlocutors from media, strategic community, Indian community and diaspora, and friends of India in Panama, according to Indian Embassy in Panama statement.

In a statement shared on X, Indian Embassy in Panama stated, "An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by Dr Shashi Tharoor, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, will be visiting the Republic of Panama from 27-29 May 2025 to convey India's strong message of zero-tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

Stating India is not just the "second largest partner" for Slovenia in Asia but also "the most important partner" for European Union, National Council of Slovenia President Marko Lotric on Tuesday said the Pahalgam terror attack was "totally not acceptable."

In an interview with ANI, he spoke spoke about the meeting with all-party delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozh, to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism, he felt "deeply sorry" for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were brutally killed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.

"First, I am deeply sorry for the whole life lost in this terrorism attack on 22nd of April. India is not just the second largest partner for Slovenia in Asia, but also India is also the most important partner for all European united, so European Union and such kind of meetings really lead to a better future. We exchange our position and our point of view is that we want really peace not just in our countries, but all around the world. Not just in this case where somebody attacked your people, which is totally not acceptable."

"We have to look around and how to protect the civil population and also how to encourage the leaders... our future, not in nuclear weapons, not in, different kind of provocation, but our future, common future, should be how to establish democracy, rule of law and ...peace," he added.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced on Tuesday its invitation to the three service chiefs of the Indian armed forces for the IPL final scheduled for June 3 in Ahmedabad. The event's closing ceremony will include a special tribute acknowledging their valiant efforts during Operation Sindoor. This information was conveyed through a media statement by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.

"We have extended an invitation to all Indian Armed Forces chiefs top-ranked officers and soldiers for the IPL final in Ahmedabad to celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor," Saikia told PTI on Tuesday.

The BCCI secretary expressed the board's deep appreciation for the unwavering dedication and selfless service demonstrated by the country's armed forces.
He specifically acknowledged the remarkable achievements during Operation Sindoor, which safeguarded and motivated the nation.

"As a tribute, we have decided to dedicate the closing ceremony to the armed forces and honor our heroes. While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and security of our country," Saikia said.

"By holding the cabinet meeting in Pahalgam, we have told the world that Jammu and Kashmir is a peace-loving and it is known for its brotherhood... Some people tried to give a wrong message... Jammu and Kashmir was and will remain strong and united... Many issues were discussed in the cabinet meeting."

Ex-Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah appealed to tourists to return to the Union territory. He expressing sorrow over the recent terror attacks which have affected the livelihoods and the region's tourism-dependent economy. He specifically mentioned the impact on Pahalgam, which is preparing for the annual Amarnath Yatra.

"This year, we expected crores of people to come, and we have no place to accommodate them. But unfortunately, those who killed innocent people did not see what would happen (to taxi drivers, hotel owners, pony owners)... We sell the beauty given by God and earn a living... We are very sad about what happened... Please come back, we are waiting for you (tourists)... 'Bholanath' is also waiting for you as Amarnath Yatra is about to start...", Abdullah said.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah-led government is holding a special cabinet meeting in Pahalgam, more than a month after a terror attack in the the Baisaran valley killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

The attack has severely affected the region's tourism, leading to widespread fear among visitors and a sharp decline in bookings and trips. The meeting aims to address these concerns and reinforce the government's commitment to combating terrorism and reviving tourism in the area.

Visuals showed members of the Abdullah cabinet arriving at the Pahalgam club for the special meeting.

"Operation Sindoor was a failure, however, in the interest of the nation, the opposition does not want to talk much about it. Operation Sindoor was launched because terrorists killed 26 innocent people in Pahalgam. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was responsible for it. As penance, Amit Shah should resign from his post. PM Modi should remove Amit Shah from the cabinet," says Sanjay Raut.

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh issued a stern warning to Pakistan, stating that any further attacks on India would lead to the neighbouring country's obliteration, underscoring the aggressive stance against terrorism following the success of 'Operation Sindoor'.

Ghosh emphasised the precision and impact of India's military response under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also urged the opposition to align with the country's interests.

"The opposition also needs to understand that the country will not tolerate such acts, and so they need to speak for the country and in support of the country... The terrorists killed the people by looking at the 'Sindoor'... That's why Operation Sindoor took place... If they attack again, then they will cease to exist," he said.

"Pakistan now understands... The way India attacked Pakistan under PM Modi, if they repeat the same mistake, then they will get only bullets and missiles. They got their backs broken... At least now, they should understand that they have been separated from the whole world. They should learn their lesson, or India will not spare them," Ghosh elaborated further.

"We are ready to talk, for the sake of peace on water issues with our neighbour. We are ready to talk to promote trade and also, counter-terrorism," Sharif said in Tehran.

"We wanted peace, we want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks, on the table, and resolve our outstanding issues. But if they accept my offer of peace, then we will show that we really want peace, seriously and sincerely," he added.

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, a member of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor-led delegation, presented a photograph of Pakistani army officials attending a state funeral being given to Pakistani terrorist.

"I think the fundamental point that we are trying to make here is unlike in other parts of the world, where terrorists and terrorism often are non-state actors, we are actually dealing with a state sponsored terrorism," Deora said in Guyana's parliament.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya presented facts about acts of terror by Pakistan in his remarks to the speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana on Monday (local time).
Expressing his views, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said, "I would want to only make 3 points for the speaker. One, India has been a victim of Pakistani terrorism for 7 decades".

He highlighted how, since the inception of Pakistan, it has constantly waged a proxy war against India.

"Pakistan's proxy war against India begun, and this has gone on unabated, without bearing the actual cost of a full-fledged war. Pakistan has tried to needle and bleed India with 1000 cuts in the last 7 decades."

He noted that while India is focused on improving the quality of life for its people, and contributes its best to the global welfare, "Pakistan tries to claim itself to be a victim of terror".

Surya added that Pakistan is "perhaps the only nation in the world speaker who has weaponized terrorism as statecraft. I want you and through you, the people of Guyana and the parliament of Guyana to take cognizance of this very unfortunate fact."

He further observed, "This terrorism that emanates from Pakistan is not just a concern for India or for the immediate geography but there's also a global threat."

He highlighted how, whether it be the "London bombings, the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, the Paris attacks, or the 9/11, all investigations have in some way or the other established a direct or indirect link with Pakistan."

In his remarks, he said, "More than 52 UN-designated terrorist organisations and terrorists find safe harbour and safe haven in Pakistan... In this interconnected globalised world, one nation's problem, especially in matters like terrorism, is a collective problem for all".

He highlighted how India took action to eliminate the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, and also neutralised the "attackers who killed Daniel Pearl."

He underscored, "One nation's inaction towards terrorism is a profound threat to all nations in this interconnected world."

In his concluding remarks, Tejasvi Surya said, "India is a nation of 1.4 billion aspirations. We are the world's 4th largest economy today, and very soon we will be the 3rd largest economy. Our priorities are-- we are in no mood for a war with Pakistan or with anybody else. And like our Prime Minister has multiple times mentioned, this is not an era of war. This is an era for growth, development, and prosperity. Therefore, speaker sir, we need your support as a very important voice in the UN Security Council, and also as a country that has long standing and deep relationship and history with India, to not just sympathise with us but also provide support and also be a partner in our collective action to make this world more prosperous, peaceful, but in no way there will be space for merciless brutal civilian killing in the name of terrorism."

In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the Modi government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists, in which 26 people were brutally killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who is part of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, has strongly called for Pakistan to be brought back to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
Owaisi has strongly advocated for Pakistan's re-inclusion on the FATF grey list, and said tighter financial scrutiny is needed against Pakistan as it might use the $2 billion IMF loan to support its military and terror groups.

During an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Kuwait, Owaisi said, "Pakistan must be brought back in the FATF grey list. The importance of the FATF grey list is that there will be huge scrutiny on that nation when you do money transactions."

Owaisi highlighted Pakistan's involvement in sponsoring terror groups against India through money laundering and hawala transactions in the Middle East

"It is a fact that Pakistan uses the Middle East hawala or money laundering to sponsor terror groups against India...bringing Pakistan in FATF is very important because...the 2 billion loan which the IMF is giving will be used by the Pakistani military..." Owaisi said.

Owaisi emphasised that Pakistan cannot raise religious issues to target India, pointing out that India has a larger Muslim population.

"Pakistan can't take up this issue (of religion) and say that they are Muslims...in India, there is a larger Muslim population...and we (Indian Muslims) are more sincere than them (Pakistan)," Owaisi said.

The delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, also includes BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP Phangnon Konyak; BJP MP Rekha Sharma; AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi; Satnam Singh Sandhu MP; Ghulam Nabi Azad; and Ambassador Harsh Shringla.

The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria.

The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. (

BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, part of the all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, said that India and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have always supported each other in difficult times and will continue to do so in the future.
Ahluwalia said Congo reaffirmed its commitment to stand with India, just as it has since opening its first mission in Delhi in 1962.

Speaking to ANI, SS Ahluwalia said, "We (India-Democratic Republic of the Congo) have always stood together in the hours of grief. In 1962, the first Mission of Democratic Republic of the Congo opened in Delhi, India. In the past decades too we stood with them and we are together even today. That is why, when we are presenting our view, they too are making a commitment that they stood with us even yesterday, they stand with us today and will be with us even in the future."

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Atul Garg, who is part of the same all-party delegation, stated that Pakistan has nurtured terrorism.

Garg also added that the government has decided to inform the world of India's sufferings and the acts of Pakistan.

Speaking to ANI, Garg said, "Pakistan has nurtured terrorism...our government decided to let the world know our sufferings and acts of Pakistan...if terrorists attack us, our country has the right to defend and we have utilised that right..."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, Indian Union Muslim League's ET Mohammed Basheer, Biju Janata Dal's Sasmit Patra, BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy are also part of the Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde-led delegation.

The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders.

The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.

The all-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor interacted with prominent members of the business community in Guyana. Earlier in the day, the all-party delegation had met the President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Monday (local time).

The Indian delegation met the President of Guyana at the State House in Georgetown. They also met the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir.

Describing his meeting with the Speaker of Guyana's National Assembly, Tharoor told ANI, "It was terrific. We had a very good visit to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Manzoor Nadir...He showed a great deal of understanding for our position and our concerns. And, each MP had a chance to contribute to the appreciation of the issue...It was very effective and we all complemented each other in conveying the concerns and determination of the Indian nation to the speaker of the Assembly."

During their visit to the National Assembly, the all-party delegation also participated in the signing of the book of National Assembly of the Parliament in Guyana.

All-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and the bronze replica of the Whitby ship in Guyana.

The all-party delegation paid floral tributes to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Promenade Gardens in Georgetown, Guyana.

The Indian delegation also offered floral tributes at the base of the bronze replica of the Whitby Ship. The Whitby Ship was the ship that brought the first Indians to Guyana in 1838.

In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the Modi government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists, in which 26 people were brutally killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The series of engagements of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, which is visiting France from May 25-27 to convey India's strong stance against terrorism, was shared by the Embassy of India in France.

As per a statement by the Embassy of India in France, it was noted that on Monday, the delegation was briefed at the Embassy of India, Paris. They also met various Paris-based think-tanks with whom they discussed India's strong and clear message against terrorism, and the challenge posed by terrorism to the world. The delegation conveyed that the terrorist attack in Pahalgam was a deliberate attempt to undermine peace and development in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and that India had responded through Operation Sindoor in a precise, targeted, proportionate, and non-escalatory manner.

Notably, the delegation further emphasized that India of today has a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, and would not differentiate between terrorists and their supporters.

The statement also mentioned that the all-party delegation met with Indian community members, where India's strong and united stance against terrorism was conveyed, and the community members showed their full solidarity with India's fight against the scourge of terrorism.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in France furnished the details of the interaction with think tanks. The post reads, "Meeting with Think Tanks- The All Party Indian Parliamentary Delegation had an in-depth and interactive discussion with experts from various French think-tanks. The Think-tanks were briefed on India's strong and clear message against terrorism. #IndiaInFrance"

Meeting with Think Tanks

The All Party Indian Parliamentary Delegation had an in-depth and interactive discussion with experts from various French think-tanks. The Think-tanks were briefed on India's strong and clear message against terrorism. #IndiaInFrance

In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists, in which 26 people were brutally killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, leading the Group of Indian MPs' delegation to France, said that India is united in its fight against terrorism and wants to show the world this message.
Prasad added that the visit is part of a larger effort, with seven delegations travelling worldwide to raise awareness about India's stand against terrorism.

During an interaction with the Indian diaspora, Prasad said, "We have come with a lot of pain, but at the same time, there is a resolve that India will stand together in the fight against terrorism and tell the world that India is truly united. 7 delegations have gone to different parts of the world. I am leading the delegation to Europe. Paris is our first stop ..."

In the same interaction, Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Khatana asserted that India wants peace with its neighbours but will not stay silent if attacked.

He declared that if Pakistan fires a bullet, India will respond with a shell, and any such act will be treated as an act of war.

"We are here to tell the world that we respect our neighbours. We want their progress, but at the same time, we cannot tolerate the ruthless killing of our innocent citizens. If a bullet comes from there (Pakistan), we will fire a shell... If anything happens from Pakistan's side, we will take it as an act of war," Khatana said.

The delegation, led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, includes Daggubati Purandeswari (BJP), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena (UBT)), Ghulam Ali Khatana, Amar Singh (Congress), Samik Bhattacharya (BJP), M J Akbar, and Pankaj Saran.

The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in the UK, France, Germany, the EU, Italy, and Denmark.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

All-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and the bronze replica of the Whitby ship in Guyana.
The all-party delegation paid floral tributes to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Promenade Gardens in Georgetown, Guyana.

The Indian delegation also offered floral tributes to the bronze replica of the Whitby Ship, a historic ship that brought the first Indians to Guyana in 1838.

Speaking to ANI, BJP MP Shashank Mani paid his respects to the people who first came to settle in Guyana, praising their role in the country's development.

Mani highlighted the success of Operation Sindoor, saying, "The message of our Operation Sindoor has been conveyed very successfully along with the message of friendship."

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "The MP's delegation was very proud to come here to this historic monument. It's a monument of a ship, called the Whitby, in 1838, the ship that brought the first load of Indian indentured servants".

He added that the vast majority of the people were from UP and Bihar, and their descendants have managed to keep a cultural affinity with India.

Tharoor stated that the delegation's primary objective was to raise awareness about India's stance on terrorism and recent events in the subcontinent, at the same time the mission is an opportunity to strengthen India-Guyana relations where 40% of the population is of Indian descent.

Tharoor said, "So as we have come here to raise consciousness and promote understanding about our position on the issue of terrorism and the recent events in the subcontinent. At the same time, the mission has acquired a broader resonance. It has also become a mission of friendship, of strengthening relations with Guyana, where 40 per cent of the population is of Indian descent. And at the same time, at a time when Guyana is booming with oil and gas reserves and a lot of economic growth and development, 30 per cent economic growth today, that is a country that also offers a lot of opportunities which India, Indian businesses, Indian students, and Indian labour should seize. So we see this as an exciting and important time in India-Guyana relations as well."

Describing his meeting with the Speaker of Guyana's National Assembly, Tharoor told ANI, "It was terrific. We had a very good visit to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Manzoor Nadir...He showed a great deal of understanding for our position and our concerns. And, each MP had a chance to contribute to the appreciation of the issue...It was very effective and we all complemented each other in conveying the concerns and determination of the Indian nation to the speaker of the Assembly."

In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the Modi government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists, in which 26 people were brutally killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad led a closed-door discussion with representatives of leading think tanks in France on Monday at the start of his all-party delegation's visit to Paris. The former Union minister is leading a nine-member delegation to France, the first stop in a six-nation tour covering European capitals to highlight India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism following the Pahalgam terrorist attacks last month.

"France is a strategic partner to India and has strongly condemned the terrible terror attack in Pahalgam, has expressed full solidarity with India and also expressed support for India's fight against terrorism," said Indian Ambassador to France Sanjeev Singla, in his introductory remarks at the meeting.

"In that context, we have the privilege of having with us a very distinguished delegation from India; parliamentarians from the length and breadth of the country, cutting across various domains," he said.

Earlier, the delegation held a briefing at the Embassy of India in Paris to discuss the key messages to be conveyed during their exchange with think tanks, parliamentarians and community groups in France.

"Our whole focus is very clear: India wants peace and amity, but not at the cost of the lives of our innocent Indians," Prasad told PTI ahead of the meetings.

"And if in the most barbaric manner Pahalgam happens, there will be a cost to it and the whole world needs to speak in one voice as far as terrorism is concerned. It's a global menace, a global cancer," he said.

"Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, if you keep on attacking with impunity, you have to pay a cost. And, Pakistan's attachment to terrorism is now completely removing the distinction between the state and the terrorist. The state of Pakistan, the deep state, is promoting terrorism as the instrument of state policy," he said.

The multi-party delegation, the seventh group in an international outreach initiative following Operation Sindoor, includes MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Ghulam Ali Khatana, Dr Amar Singh, Samik Bhattacharya and M. Thambidurai and former Union minister M.J. Akbar and former Deputy National Security Advisor Ambassador Pankaj Saran.

From France, the delegation heads to Italy and goes on to cover the UK, Germany, Denmark and the European Union (EU)

India's Ambassador to Qatar, Vipul, has called the all-party delegation, led by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule's visit to Qatar "successful" and said that Qatar expressed support for India against terrorism.

Speaking to ANI, Vipul said that the delegation held a meeting with Shura Council's Deputy Speaker Hamda bint Al-Sulaiti and Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and conveyed India's stand after the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

He said that Qatar expressed support for India and affirmed its zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.

About the all-party delegation's meeting in Qatar, the Indian envoy said, "These meetings were really good. There was a meeting at the Shura Council yesterday. Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, Dr Hamda bint Al-Sulaiti received our delegation and a few members of the The Shura Council were also present there. This morning, the delegation met Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi. After that, they met Minister of State for Interior, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Al Thani."

"In all these meetings, our delegation presented our stand after Pahalgam terror attack, our new policy against terrorism introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The delegation told them about Operation Sindoor. The stand from Qatar's side is that they stand in solidarity with India against terrorism. They condemned Pahalgam terror attack. Qatar said that they too have a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism. So, overall, as per the strategic partnership we have, both sides had good conversations. They heard and understood our stand. Qatar made clear their unequivocal stand against terrorism and told us that they completely stand with India against terrorism."

Vipul said that the delegation's visit to Qatar was successful. In the evening, the delegation will meet the Indian community and later head to South Africa.

Terming MPs visit to Qatar a success, he said, ""This is very successful (a successful visit). It served its purpose because it was to tell our partner countries our stand, and we gave a message that the entire world has to come together against terrorism. That message was very well received by our Qatari friends. In addition to Ministers and government officials, the delegation also met with people from academia and businesspersons and conveyed our stance. The delegation will meet the Indian community in the evening. Overall, it has been a very successful visit. From here, they will move to South Africa."

The delegation, led by Surpiya Sule, includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (AAP), Manish Tewari (Congress), Anurag Singh Thakur (BJP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Anand Sharma (Congress), V Muraleedharan (BJP) and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. After concluding their visit to Qatar, the delegation will travel to South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia.

This all-party delegation aims to project India's national consensus and firm stance on combating terrorism in all its forms. They will carry India's strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism to the global community during their outreach.

Operation Sindoor was launched early on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists.

India and Pakistan have agreed to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, a member of an all-party delegation visiting France to highlight India's stand on terrorism said on Monday that "Pakistan continues to be a global hub of terror" and said it is time to hold Pakistan "accountable".

The delegation in France, led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, M J Akbar, Ghulam Ali Khatana, and Samik Bhattacharya; Congress MP Amar Singh; Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi; and former Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Saran.

After meeting with the Indian Ambassador to France, Sanjeev Singla, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chaturvedi, told ANI, "Ambassador gave us a brief overview about how things are in France and what are the kind of feelings they have with regards to post-Pahalgam and how France has come forward and supported India's need to respond to such kind of terrorism. We must also remember that France is also at the receiving end of terrorism and extremism. So, this is something that they are concerned about too"

Chaturvedi stated that the delegation will, during their visit, detail the events leading to India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

"So, moving forward we are going to have a couple of engagements through the day and based on which we will respond to all the questions that are coming our way, all concerns or concerning what led to India's response to Pakistan's terror attack and how Pakistan continues to be the global hub of terror - whether it was Charlie Hebdo, the earliest terrorist attacks, France has also been a victim of terror attacks emanating from Pakistan. I think France very well understands that, and this is exactly what we are going to talk to them about: it's time that we all expressed zero tolerance to terrorism and held Pakistan to account," she added.

Earlier on Monday, India's Ambassador to France, Sanjeev Singla, briefed the all-party delegation, at the embassy of India in France.

In a post on X, Indian Embassy in France stated that India's message of unity and solidarity in the fight against terrorism will further strengthen bilateral cooperation on shared global challenge of fighting terrorism.

"Ambassador Sanjeev Singla welcomed the All Party Delegation at the Embassy of India, Paris. The delegation was given a detailed briefing by Ambassador. India and France enjoy strong bilateral ties of strategic partnership. India's message of unity & solidarity in the fight against terrorism will further strengthen bilateral cooperation on shared global challenge of fighting terrorism," Indian Embassy in France posted on X.

Meanwhile, Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that while India believes in peace and harmony, terrorism sponsored from across the border, particularly by Pakistan, comes with consequences. He emphasised that India's response through Operation Sindoor was a message to those who challenge its sovereignty, and urged the international community to unite against the global menace of terrorism, calling it a "cancer" that knows no borders.

While speaking with ANI, Prasad said, "India believes in peace, India believes in harmony. Terrorism taking place from across the border, supported and patronised by the Pakistani government, will have its cost. If Sindoor was removed, we responded with Operation Sindoor."

In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the Central government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

A multi-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday arrived at the original Parliament building in Guyana's Georgetown for a meeting with Manzoor Nadir, Speaker of the National Assembly, to highlight India's stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
The delegation, led by Tharoor, consists of Shambhavi Chaudhary (Lok Janshakti Party), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), G M Harish Balayagi (Telugu Desam Party), Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejaswi Surya, Bhubaneswar K Lata (all from BJP), Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena) and Former Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

They arrived in Guyana on Sunday and called upon the Vice President of Guyana. They met Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to discuss several key issues, including India's zero-tolerance stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Tharoor hailed the discussions and noted that the talks also featured the larger issues in the relationship between Guyana and India.

Speaking to ANI, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "It was a phenomenal meeting."

Calling Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, "a good friend of the nation", Tharoor said, "He (Vice President) showed a tremendous amount of understanding for our (India's) position on the current events with our neighbour."

Tharoor also noted that the discussions involved talks on the bilateral ties between India and Guyana.

Highlighting the deep ties between New Delhi and Georgetown, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, who is a part of the multi-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor, thanked Guyana's people and government for standing with India in its fight against terrorism.

"Today, after America, we have come to Guyana, under the leadership of Shashi Tharoor. There is a very deep relationship between Guyana and India. In a way, the people of Guyana have a very deep affection for India. And on the day when Guyana is celebrating its 59th Independence Day, we are celebrating this with the people of Guyana," Deora told ANI.

The delegation will visit Panama from May 27 to 29. The visit aims to convey India's message of zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

In an official statement on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Panama said, "An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, will be visiting the Republic of Panama from 27-29 May 2025 to convey India's strong message of zero-tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

Workers at Kohinoor and Evershine, two souvenir shops right at the entrance of Bab Al Bahrain, were taken by surprise when Indian parliamentarians made a surprise appearance at this historical market area of Manama Souq. Kohinoor is owned by an Indian while Evershine is run by Pakistani workers.
In the middle of hectic meetings in Bahrain around their diplomatic outreach on the April 22 Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda made a stopover at this iconic area on Saturday evening.

Members spoke to a few people, took pictures and moved on.

"It just felt good to see people like (AIMIM leader Asaduddin) Owaisi, I had to click a selfie," said an Indian worker of Kohinoor.

The Pakistani workers at Evershine looked amused and curious at the same time.

"We are here to work, don't really know about the politics that is happening back home," one said.

Both setups usually work very closely with each other.

Against this backdrop, the broader diplomatic mission continued.

The main aim of the all-party delegation, which is one of the seven multi-party groups travelling to 33 global capitals, is to reach out to the international community on Pakistan's designs and India's response to terror, especially in view of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, and Operation Sindhu which was subsequently launched in its response.

India wants to tell the Muslim world that it's not just about a fight between two countries but part of the larger challenge of global terrorism.

That's why some delegation members are drawing parallels between the 'takfeeri' ideology of groups like ISIS-affecting parts of the Muslim world-and the kind of terrorism India is facing.

"There is no difference between these terrorist organisations in Pakistan and the ISIS Takfiri ideology. This we must remember. This is a menace to the whole of humankind and we have to put an end to it...they have used religion to justify killing of people and the whole world knows that Islam has condemned terrorism," said All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Owaisi.

"Quran has categorically stated that killing of one innocent person, Quran has not said killing of one innocent Muslim, it says killing of one innocent person is like killing of whole humankind," he added.

In the Muslim world, India is trying to drive the point across that just because Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country, it cannot be absolved from its actions against India.

While engaging with key government and political figures in Middle Eastern countries, the all-party delegation is also making a concerted effort to connect with the strong Indian diaspora to shape the opinion.

"Indian diaspora over the decades has become one of the most influential communities, it represents India's soft power and we want to explain to them the points that we have so that they help in taking them forward," said Panda after addressing a gathering at Indian embassy in Bahrain.

Close to 3.5 lakh Indians live in Bahrain, while the number of Pakistanis living and working in this country is around half that number.

The delegation's mission is to present India's perspective to these Muslim countries, and it wants to use all possible support to effectively convey the message.

The group is engaging with key political leaders, government officials, civil society representatives, and think tanks in these countries.

Its members are addressing questions, responding to concerns, and presenting a unified image of India to the people in these countries.

"Prime Minister have made it very clear, we will have talks only on two issues. Because they have been illegally occupying. When we got independent, the different parts went to different countries, Pakistan, India, and the British put up a system," said Panda, addressing a gathering.

"By that system, Jammu and Kashmir signed and came to us. And Pakistan illegally occupied. And we have been having talks ever since. And war and talks and war and terrorist attacks. So, we will have talks only on two issues with Pakistan. That return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and stop of terrorism," he said.

"Now, if they know what to do to get us to respond. They have to take action on the terrorists who are openly operating on their soil," he added.

Through these interactions and meetings, the delegation also aims to shape the views of key Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members about India's perspective.

"With all clarity, we are articulating who is treating minorities how in their countries. After independence, India's Muslim population was 9 per cent or 10 per cent. Now it is about 20 per cent and on the other hand minority Hindu population in Pakistan was 13 per cent and now it is 1 per cent. So Pakistan is treating its minorities badly and also impacting India with terror. We have been able to communicate this too," said BJP MP Nishikant Dube.

The message is of peace. The message is that India wants peace but will have zero tolerance for any form of terrorism.

Besides Panda, Owaisi and Dube, former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, ex-National chairperson of the National Commission for Women and Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma are also among the delegation members.

On Monday, the delegation reached Kuwait from Bahrain to highlight India's zero-tolerance stance against terrorism.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives. India carried out precision strikes as part of Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7.

It was followed by Pakistan's attempt to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions.

The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.