New Delhi: Pakistan’s attempt to obstruct an Indian parliamentary delegation’s visit to Malaysia has backfired, with Kuala Lumpur firmly rejecting the interference, multiple media reports suggest. The Pakistani embassy reportedly appealed to Malaysian authorities to cancel engagements involving the Indian MPs by invoking ‘Islamic solidarity’, but the request was turned down. Despite Islamabad’s lobbying efforts, the Indian delegation’s itinerary remained unaffected. All scheduled meetings and events went ahead without disruption, which diplomatic observers are calling a clear setback for Pakistan.
The Indian delegation was led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha and included lawmakers from various parties—BJP’s Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, and Hemang Joshi; TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee; CPM’s John Brittas; Congress leader Salman Khurshid; and retired diplomat Mohan Kumar. According to reports, Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue in an attempt to derail the visit, but its efforts were ignored.
India’s global outreach push
Malaysia was one of several countries on the delegation’s itinerary, which also included Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The visit is part of a wider diplomatic outreach, with seven Indian teams sent abroad to highlight Pakistan’s links to terrorism in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack that killed 27 civilians, and to explain India’s retaliatory military operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor.
In Malaysia, the delegation held talks with representatives of the People’s Justice Party (PKR), including YB Sim Tze Tzin, a former minister under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The Indian side outlined the objectives of Operation Sindoor and reiterated India’s firm stance against terrorism. The team also informed Malaysian officials about the targeted strikes carried out during the counter-operation, presenting it as an example of India’s “new normal” approach to dealing with cross-border terror threats.
