New Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs held a comprehensive meeting on Monday, during which Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed members on recent foreign policy developments concerning India and Pakistan, including the aftermath of Operation Sindoor launched on May 7. The meeting, which lasted nearly three hours, was one of the most well-attended, with 24 members present.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who chairs the committee, described the discussions as rich and thorough, noting the high engagement from committee members. He shared that there was a general sentiment in support of the Foreign Secretary, with some members expressing a desire to pass a resolution of solidarity in light of online attacks or comments directed at him. However, the Foreign Secretary requested that no resolution be passed.
Tharoor emphasized that the committee collectively appreciated the Foreign Secretary’s service to the nation. “We had a very comprehensive and rich discussion… There was even a desire to have a resolution expressing solidarity with the Foreign Secretary in the face of unwarranted attacks or comments. He himself requested that there should be no resolution, but it was a unanimous sentiment of the committee that he has performed good service for the nation,” he said.
Tharoor also stated that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) provided detailed and satisfactory responses to a range of thoughtful questions posed by the members. “All committee members wanted to encourage the Foreign Secretary and announce our solidarity against everything that was said on social media against him and his family. This is absolutely wrong. The entire committee supports him. We would also like to say that he has served the nation well and we are thankful to him,” he said.
Responding to a question about the all-party delegation being sent to convey India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism to foreign governments, Tharoor said a briefing for his delegation is scheduled for Friday. He added that his team will depart later than others due to the U.S. Memorial Day weekend and will visit Georgetown (Guyana), Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee, who also attended the meeting, affirmed his party’s support for the central government in combating terrorism and protecting national sovereignty. However, he raised concerns about the process used to select members for the delegation, insisting that each party should have autonomy in nominating its representatives.
He further proposed that the delegations should include families of martyrs and brave armed forces personnel who led Operation Sindoor. “We should send brave armed forces officers who led Operation Sindoor, who devoted their lives for the country… This is not the time to do politics. Politics can take a backseat,” Banerjee said.
Banerjee emphasized that while India must expose Pakistan’s long-standing support for terrorism on the global stage, party nominations for international delegations should be decided by the respective political parties, not unilaterally by the ruling party.
As part of India’s diplomatic offensive following Operation Sindoor, seven all-party delegations will travel to key partner nations, including members of the United Nations Security Council. These delegations will convey India’s strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism in all its forms and demonstrate the country’s national consensus on the issue.
The delegations will include Members of Parliament from various political parties, prominent political figures, and seasoned diplomats. Delegation leaders include Shashi Tharoor (INC), Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JD-U), Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP), and Srikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena).
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, during which India conducted precision strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India responded strongly to Pakistan’s retaliatory aggression, including pounding key airbases. The two countries have since reached an understanding to halt further military action following a direct call between their respective Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs). (ANI)
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