New Delhi: In response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, the Indian government unveiled a powerful international outreach initiative. Seven all-party delegations comprising 59 members will travel to 33 countries, including the European Union headquarters to reinforce India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and present a united national front.
These delegations are led by prominent leaders from across the political spectrum ranging from the BJP and Congress to the DMK and NCP and include former diplomats and seasoned parliamentarians. The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that their visits will span key regions in the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Group 1
Panda to Lead Mission to Gulf and North Africa
Led by BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda, Group 1 will travel to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. The eight-member delegation also includes senior politician and former J&K CM Ghulam Nabi Azad and ex-Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The group aims to engage with strategic Gulf partners on counter-terror cooperation.
1. Nishikant Dubey: Member of Parliament, BJP
2. Baijayant Panda: Member of Parliament, BJP
3. Phangnon Konyak: Member of Parliament, BJP
4. Asaduddin Owaisi: Member of Parliament, AIMIM
5. Satnam Singh Sandhu: Member of Parliament, Nominated
6. Harsh Shringla: Former Ambassador to the US and Thailand
7. Rekha Sharma: Member of Parliament, BJP
8. Ghulam Nabi Azad: Former Union Minister, Ex-Jammu and Kashmir Ministers, DPAP
Group 2
Prasad Heads Delegation to EU and Western Europe
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad will lead Group 2 to the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, and the EU headquarters in Brussels. Former Union Minister MJ Akbar and ex-Ambassador Pankaj Saran will support diplomatic outreach aimed at strengthening global alliances against terrorism.
1. Ravi Shankar Prasad: Member of Parliament, BJP
2. Priyanka Chaturvedi: Member of Parliament, Shiv Sena (UBT)
3. Amar Singh: Member of Parliament, Congress
4. Pankaj Saran: Former Ambassador to Russia
5. Daggubati Purandeswari: Member of Parliament, BJP
6. Ghulam Ali Khatana: Member of Parliament, Nominated
7. MJ Akbar: Former Minister of State for External Affairs, BJP
8. Samik Bhattacharya: Member of Parliament, BJP
Group 3
Southeast Asia on the Radar for Jha-Led Team
Sanjay Kumar Jha of the JD(U) is at the helm of Group 3, which will visit Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The team includes CPI(M)’s John Brittas and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. TMC’s Yusuf Pathan was originally named but the party has since opted out, leaving his position uncertain.
1. Aparajita Sarangi: Member of Parliament, BJP
2. Mohan Kumar: Former Ambassador to France
3. Salman Khurshid: Former Minister of External Affairs of India, Congress
4. Hemang Joshi: Member of Parliament, BJP
5. Pradan Baruah: Member of Parliament, BJP
6. John Brittas: Member of Parliament, CPI(M)
7. Yusuf Pathan: Member of Parliament, AITC (Opted out)
8. Sanjay Kumar Jha: Member of Parliament, JDU
9. Brij Lal: Member of Parliament, BJP
Group 4
Africa and Gulf Focus for Shinde’s Delegation
Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde will lead Group 4 to UAE, Liberia, Congo, and Sierra Leone. IUML MP ET Mohammed Basheer and diplomat Sujan Chinoy are part of this group that will target regional stability partnerships and diaspora engagement.
1. Shrikant Eknath Shinde: Member of Parliament, Shiv Sena
2. Bansuri Swaraj: Member of Parliament, BJP
3. ET Mohammed Basheer: Member of Parliament, IUML
4. Atul Garg: Member of Parliament, BJP
5. Sasmit Patra: Member of Parliament, BJD
6. Manan Kumar Mishra: Member of Parliament, BJP
7. SS Ahluwalia: Former Member of the Lok Sabha, BJP
8. Sujan Chinoy: Former Ambassador to Japan, Mexico
Group 5
Tharoor Leads US and Latin America Outreach
Congress MP and former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor will take Group 5 to the United States, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia. Backed by former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, this delegation is tasked with consolidating India's strategic interests across the Western Hemisphere.
1. Shashi Tharoor: Member of Parliament, Congress
2. Shambhavi Choudhary: Member of Parliament, LJP (Ram Vilas)
3. Sarfaraz Ahmad: Member of Parliament, JMM
4. GM Harish Balayogi: Member of Parliament, TDP
5. Shashank Mani Tripathi: Member of Parliament, BJP
6. Bhubaneswar Kalita: Member of Parliament, BJP
7. Milind Murli Deora: Member of Parliament, Shiv Sena
8. Tejasvi Surya: Member of Parliament, BJP
9. Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Former Ambassador to the United States
Group 6
Kanimozhi to Spearhead Dialogue in Russia and Southern Europe
DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi will lead Group 6’s mission to Russia, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, and Latvia. Former envoys Manjeev Singh Puri and Jawed Ashraf join the group, which will underscore India’s global leadership in anti-terror diplomacy.
1. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi: Member of Parliament, DMK
2. Rajeev Rai: Member of Parliament, SP
3. Mian Altaf Ahmad: Member of Parliament, National Conference
4. Brijesh Chowta: Member of Parliament, BJP
5. Prem Chand Gupta: Member of Parliament, RJD
6. Ashok Kumar Mittal: Member of Parliament, AAP
7. Manjeev S Puri: Former Ambassador to the European Union
8. Jawed Ashraf: Former Ambassador to France
Group 7
Sule Heads African Outreach with Multi-Party Firepower
NCP leader Supriya Sule will guide Group 7 through Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Congress’s Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, BJP’s V Muraleedharan, and seasoned diplomat Syed Akbaruddin form a diverse and experienced team aiming to enhance South-South cooperation.
1. Supriya Sule: Member of Parliament, NCP (SCP)
2. Rajiv Pratap Rudy: Member of Parliament, BJP
3. Vikramjeet Singh Sahni: Member of Parliament, BJP
4. Manish Tewari: Member of Parliament, Congress
5. Anurag Singh Thakur: Member of Parliament, BJP
6. Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu: Member of Parliament, TDP
7. Anand Sharma: Former Minister of Industry and Supply of India, Congress
8. V Muraleedharan: Former Minister of State for External Affairs, BJP
9. Syed Akbaruddin: Former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in Geneva, Former Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs
