India Steps Up Global Anti-Terror Push: All-Party Delegation Engages Indonesia on Operation Sindoor
New Delhi, May 29, 2025 – As part of India’s growing international campaign to build a united front against cross-border terrorism, a high-level All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha held extensive diplomatic and strategic engagements in Jakarta on Thursday.
From engaging with prominent think tanks and academic institutions to meeting senior political leaders and ambassadors from around 20 countries, the delegation’s outreach emphasized India’s unwavering commitment to zero tolerance on terrorism and spotlighted the details of Operation Sindoor—India’s calibrated military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Operation Sindoor in Focus: Diplomacy with Purpose
The Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of several civilians—targeted based on religion—prompted a firm and measured response by India, codenamed Operation Sindoor. During interactions in Jakarta, the Indian delegation presented a unified narrative, highlighting the operation as a non-escalatory yet decisive counterterrorism action rooted in international law and self-defense.
“India’s response was surgical, precise, and mindful of regional stability,” a senior member of the delegation told foreign envoys, adding, “Pakistan’s role in nurturing terrorism cannot be ignored.”
Reaching Out to Diplomats from 20 Nations
In a closed-door session facilitated by the Indian Embassy in Jakarta, the delegation briefed Resident Ambassadors of nearly 20 friendly nations. The focus: Pakistan’s continued support for terrorist groups and the international community’s moral obligation to hold state sponsors of terrorism accountable.
Citing the April 25 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement on global counter-terror cooperation, the delegation called for concerted diplomatic pressure on Pakistan. Delegates reiterated India’s longstanding position that “terror and talks cannot go together, just as blood and water cannot flow together.”
Engaging Indonesian Political Leadership: PAN Joins the Conversation
In a high-profile meeting, the delegation met with leaders of Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN), Indonesia’s Modernist Muslim party. Talks were held with Eddy Soeparno, Vice Chairman of PAN and Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian People's Assembly, and Viva Yoga Mauladi, Vice Chairman of PAN and Deputy Minister for Transmigration.
“Pleased to lead our All-Party Parliamentary Delegation in an insightful interaction with senior leadership of Indonesia’s National Mandate Party (Partai Amanat Nasional – PAN),” Sanjay Kumar Jha posted on X.
He added, “We conveyed India’s firm stand on zero tolerance towards terrorism, sharing the account of the Pahalgam attack and India’s decisive response through Operation Sindoor. Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and emphasized the importance of dialogue, democracy, and regional peace.”
The meeting marked a new chapter in Indo-Indonesian parliamentary cooperation and mutual alignment on regional peace and counterterrorism.
Think Tanks and Academia Voice Support
Earlier in the day, the delegation participated in deep-dive discussions with Indonesia’s most respected research institutions and strategic forums. Among those engaged were:
- Indonesian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)
- Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
- Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI)
- The Habibie Center
- Indo-Pacific Strategic Intelligence (ISI)
- Center for Indonesia Policy Studies (CIPS)
- University of Indonesia
- Indonesia Air Power Studies Centre
Indian representatives offered an in-depth presentation on the false and malicious propaganda campaigns orchestrated by Pakistan, urging academics and analysts to help counter such narratives in global discourse.
“There was broad understanding of India’s position and appreciation for the need to confront terrorism not only militarily but also ideologically,” said a press release from the Indian Embassy in Jakarta.
India’s Diplomatic Doctrine on Full Display
A particularly striking moment came when the delegation responded to a query on what India considers the "endgame" in its counterterrorism stance.
“The complete cessation of terror activities by Pakistan, dismantling of terror infrastructure within Pakistani territory, and the vacation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is the only acceptable resolution,” the Indian side asserted, leaving little room for ambiguity.
This clarity in India's foreign policy messaging indicates a sharpened doctrine rooted in strategic patience, tactical precision, and diplomatic assertiveness.
Diverse Delegation Reflects India’s United Front
The delegation to Indonesia is composed of a rare cross-party coalition of parliamentarians from across the political spectrum:
- Sanjay Kumar Jha (JD-U) – Leader of the delegation
- Aparajita Sarangi (BJP)
- Brij Lal (BJP)
- Hemang Joshi (BJP)
- Pradan Baruah (BJP)
- Abhishek Banerjee (TMC)
- John Barittas (CPI-M)
- Salman Khurshid (INC)
- Mohan Kumar, Former Indian Ambassador to France
The diversity of the delegation underlines the bipartisan unity in India’s stand against terrorism and adds greater weight to India’s global outreach efforts.
Building Momentum After Southeast Asia Tour
The delegation’s Jakarta visit follows a series of successful diplomatic engagements in Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, where Indian leaders conveyed similar messages to regional stakeholders. In each of these countries, the delegation aimed to secure support for India’s anti-terror position while building confidence in India's role as a responsible regional stabilizer.
Implications and Takeaways
- Diplomatic leverage: India is clearly leveraging soft power, moral authority, and multilateral institutions to isolate Pakistan on the global stage.
- Soft consensus on terrorism: The meetings in Indonesia suggest that countries in Southeast Asia, particularly those with large Muslim populations, are increasingly willing to view terrorism as a geopolitical threat rather than a religiously driven issue.
- ASEAN as a key partner: By choosing Indonesia—a founding ASEAN member and the largest Muslim-majority nation—as a key stop, India is signaling its commitment to building a robust Indo-Pacific security framework.
Conclusion: A New Era in India’s Counterterrorism Diplomacy?
India’s outreach in Jakarta marks a strategic shift from reactive diplomacy to proactive coalition-building. Through unified parliamentary diplomacy, clear articulation of facts, and engagement with diverse stakeholders, India is reshaping the narrative around cross-border terrorism.
With growing global fatigue over state-sponsored terror and increasing scrutiny over Pakistan’s activities, the momentum appears to be in India’s favor. Whether this will lead to tangible shifts in international pressure remains to be seen, but the groundwork has certainly been laid.