Brussels, 5th June 2025 – An all-party delegation of Indian parliamentarians, led by senior BJP MP and former Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, briefed the Brussels press corps today at the Indian Embassy, focusing on the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and India’s subsequent military response, dubbed Operation Sindoor.
The delegation, which includes representatives from both ruling and opposition parties, called on the European Union to take a firmer position against state-sponsored terrorism, with particular reference to Pakistan.
Welcoming the gathering, Indian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU, Saurabh Kumar, remarked: “India’s fight against terrorism is not just a regional matter—it concerns the entire democratic world. We hope our friends in Europe will appreciate the gravity of the situation.” He added that the delegation “reflects the unity and diversity of India’s parliamentary system, coming together to express a shared concern.”
‘Enough is Enough’
Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad opened the session by describing the 22nd April Pahalgam attack as “barbaric”, noting that a young couple on their honeymoon were among those killed. “We travel to Europe with considerable pain and agony,” he said. “This is not merely an India-Pakistan issue. Terrorism is a global cancer.”
Outlining the context for India’s military response, he explained: “At 1:15 am on 7 May, Indian missiles struck only terrorist camps in Bahawalpur, Muridke and Muzaffarabad. No civilian target was hit, no Indian soldier crossed the border. This was a proportionate strike, and we informed Pakistan immediately.”
He warned that any future attacks would be considered acts of war: “Let me make this absolutely clear. Trade and terror cannot go together. Talk and terror cannot go together. If Pakistan strikes again through its terror proxies, India will respond with greater accuracy and force.”
Delegation Reflects Broad Political Spectrum
The delegation included parliamentarians from the BJP, Indian National Congress, Shiv Sena, and regional parties such as AIADMK. Former Union Ministers, sitting Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, and former Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Saran were also present.
Introducing his colleagues, Mr Prasad said, “This delegation represents the entire political mosaic of India. North, South, East, West—we are united in saying that the time has come to address terrorism as a matter of international urgency.”
Congress MP Dr Amar Singh said, “We are not here to debate internal politics. We are here to say, clearly, that terrorism must be met with zero tolerance. This is not just about India—it is about the right of every citizen to live in safety.”
European Engagement Called For
Responding to a question from EU Today, Mr Prasad said, “We appreciate the condemnation that came from the European Parliament, the government of Belgium and other allies. But let me be blunt—there must also be condemnation of the source of terrorism.”
He added: “The European Commission itself has admitted to funding madrassas in Pakistan. If those funds are being misused to radicalise youth or to sustain terrorist infrastructure, Europe must investigate.”
Asked whether India would consider making counter-terrorism a condition for future EU trade agreements, Mr Prasad replied: “We do not seek preconditions, but the world must understand: if you want real peace, you cannot turn a blind eye to the terror machine operating from Pakistani soil.”
Kashmir and Development
Several questions focused on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Prasad stated that the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 had led to tangible improvements: “We have held the fairest elections in the region, not a single booth saw violence or re-polling. Today, the opposition is in power in the region, tourism has surged, and young people are in school—not in militant camps.”
Supporting this view, Shiv Sena MP Shrimati Ketan Chaturvedi added, “Before Article 370 was removed, a Kashmiri woman marrying outside the state lost her inheritance rights. That has changed. Infrastructure is booming, property rights are equal, and the highest railway bridge in the world is being inaugurated tomorrow by the Prime Minister.”
Mr Gulam Ali Khatana, a Rajya Sabha MP from Kashmir, said: “Pakistan’s generals want Kashmir to fail because its success undermines their narrative. They now target tourists instead of military installations. That is the level of their desperation.”
Long-Term Vision and Closing Remarks
The delegation also addressed concerns over nuclear escalation. “Pakistan has repeatedly used the nuclear threat as a shield,” Mr Prasad said. “But there was no movement on that front. This was a conventional, precise operation. Our doctrine remains ‘no first use’.”
Turning to India’s long-term strategy, Mr Prasad concluded: “We are building the world’s fourth-largest economy with justice and equity. We’ve issued 1.39 billion digital ID cards, opened 500 million bank accounts, and become a leader in mobile manufacturing and digital payments. But development cannot flourish in the shadow of terrorism.”
Ambassador Saurabh Kumar closed the session by thanking the journalists present: “India believes in peace, democracy, and international cooperation. We count on our friends in Europe to recognise that the fight against terrorism is not India’s alone—it is everyone’s fight.”
