Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been picked as one of the seven Members of Parliament who will lead an All-Party Delegations of MPs tasked with briefing key foreign governments on the recent India-Pakistan conflict and India's stance on it. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs announced the names of the leaders who will represent India in its diplomatic outreach following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
Sharing the announcement on X, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju put forward a crucial message - "In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united". "Seven All-Party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying our shared message of zero-tolerance to terrorism. A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences," he tweeted.
Tharoor’s inclusion in the delegation comes after he publicly backed Operation Sindoor. His remarks in support of the government's military action reportedly caused internal friction and some Congress leaders expressed disapproval.
Alongside Tharoor, the other MPs leading the delegations include:
Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP)
Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU)
Baijayant Panda (BJP)
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK)
Supriya Sule (NCP)
Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena)
Sources have said that each delegation will consist of 5–6 MPs and will travel to countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The foreign tour is expected to begin after May 22, with invitations already sent out.
This move is part of India’s diplomatic push to highlight Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism and to build international consensus. Rijiju is overseeing the coordination of the tour.
The outreach follows the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure across the border. Pakistan attempted drone strikes in response, escalating tensions before both nations agreed to de-escalate on May 10 following military-level talks.
Source: India Today
