New Delhi: In the aftermath of India’s counter-terror operation codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’, Pakistan has once again found itself on the defensive — not only militarily, but diplomatically. Facing growing international scrutiny over its links to terrorism, Islamabad is now attempting to mirror India’s diplomatic manoeuvres in what appears to be a last-ditch effort to salvage its global reputation.
In an unprecedented move, a seven-member, all-party parliamentary delegation will soon travel to major global capitals to present India’s evidence-backed stance on cross-border terrorism. The delegations will be led by major figures from across the political spectrum — including Congress’s Shashi Tharoor, BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad, DMK’s Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, JD(U)’s Sanjay Kumar Jha, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Eknath Shinde, and BJP leader Baijayant Panda. Their mission: to showcase India’s united stand against terrorism following the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22 and Operation Sindoor.
In a post on X, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju wrote: “In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united. These delegations will carry our shared message of zero tolerance to terrorism — a powerful reflection of national unity above politics.”
Pakistan’s response
Just days after India’s announcement, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached out to former foreign minister and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, requesting him to lead a delegation to present Pakistan’s “case for peace” on the international stage.
“I was contacted earlier today by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who requested that I lead a delegation to present Pakistan’s case for peace on the international stage. I am honoured to accept this responsibility and remain committed to serving Pakistan in these challenging times,” Bhutto Zardari posted on social media.
Desperation and reactive diplomacy
However, according to analysts, this move reeks of desperation and reactive diplomacy. Pakistan’s credibility on the global stage has been severely dented following its retaliatory actions during Operation Sindoor — actions which included indiscriminate cross-border shelling and attempted drone attacks targeting Indian civilian areas.
India, on the other hand, carried out targeted precision strikes on May 7 across nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), eliminating over 100 terrorists linked with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The four-day military escalation ended on May 10 after India successfully neutralised several Pakistani radar installations and communication centres across 11 airbases.
