France together with India in fight against terror: Ravi Shankar Prasad-led team concludes Paris visit
'All the colleagues in the Senate in this majestic building have only one word to say: we are together with India in the fight against terrorism,' Prasad told reporters.
The nine-member delegation was joined by representatives of the India-France Friendship Group in the French Senate led by its Vice-President, Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio, as well as members of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee at the grand Luxembourg Palace for their final engagement in the French capital before departing for Rome, Italy.
Paris, May 27 (PTI) France on Tuesday reiterated its solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism emanating from Pakistan and agreed that the democratic world needs to speak in one voice on this issue, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said at the conclusion of the Paris leg of his all-party delegation's visit to European capitals.
'They totally agreed that France and India, indeed the whole democratic world, need to speak in one voice in the fight against terrorism emanating from Pakistan and supported by the Pakistani state,' he said, adding that the delegation was 'really touched' by this support and expressed gratitude to the French Senators.
'We saw it all here: energy, compassion, love for France and India and the people, that is the takeaway (of the visit),' he added.
The dialogue with the Senators followed a meeting with members of the India-France Friendship Group in the Assemblee Nationale (National Assembly) earlier on Tuesday.
'This meeting was very interesting for us to note how India sees France. We have a partnership that is very strong, very old and very good for both nations. It's promising for the future,' said Thierry Tesson, President of the group which is planning a visit to India soon.
'We are fighting against terrorism in France also. Like the president of the delegation (Prasad), I agree it (terrorism) is like a cancer that has to be fought against. We are stronger when we are together against this cancer,' he said.
Earlier, the multi-party delegation including MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Ghulam Ali Khatana, Dr Amar Singh, Samik Bhattacharya and M Thambidurai, and former Union minister MJ Akbar and former Deputy National Security Advisor Ambassador Pankaj Saran addressed the local French media to highlight the global aspect of terrorism rooted in Pakistan.
'The distinction between the state of Pakistan and terrorism has now withered away. Terrorism as an instrument of state policy is a part of the military state of Pakistan,' Prasad told reporters.
The European delegation, one of 33 similar all-party teams travelling across the globe to express India's zero-tolerance stance against terror, is now scheduled for dialogues and meetings in Italy. This will be followed by visits to Denmark, the UK, Belgium and Germany. As part of India's diplomatic outreach, all-party delegations are travelling to global capitals to reach out to the international community on Pakistan's designs and India's response to terror, especially in view of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. PTI AK GRS GRS
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Lammy meets PM, Jaishankar: Trade to terror, India and UK flag deeper ties
After meeting visiting UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy Saturday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India follows a policy of 'zero tolerance against terrorism' and expects its partners to understand that Delhi will never 'countenance' the equivalence of perpetrators and victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met Lammy as well, said: 'Pleased to meet UK Foreign Secretary Mr David Lammy. Appreciate his substantive contribution to the remarkable progress in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, further strengthened by the recently concluded FTA. Value UK's support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism.' This is the first visit by a Foreign Minister from a P-5 country to India after the India-Pakistan hostilities last month. Lammy had visited Islamabad on May 16, when he had welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Jaishankar said: 'Let me thank the Government of the United Kingdom for the strong condemnation of the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and for your solidarity and support to India in the fight against terrorism. We practice a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and expect our partners to understand it, and we will never countenance perpetrators of evil being put at par with its victims.' Jaishankar said that recent conclusion of the India-UK FTA and the Double Contribution Convention is 'truly a milestone' which will not only propel two-way trade and investment but will have also have a 'positive effect on other strategic aspects of our bilateral ties, it would also contribute to the strengthening of supply and value chains'. He said that the Technology Security Initiative (TSI) will enable deeper collaboration in strategic technology sectors of AI, Semiconductors, Telecom, Quantum, HealthTech/ Bio-Tech, Critical Minerals and Advanced Materials. The two sides have also launched the Strategic Exports and Technology Cooperation Dialogue which will increase TSI's effectiveness in promoting trade in critical and emerging technologies, including the resolution of relevant licensing or regulatory issues. He also said that the UK-India infrastructure financial bridge can 'unlock quality long term capital flows from the United Kingdom to India', and that 'would surely contribute to our infrastructure development'. 'There is very good collaboration in the education sector with many more universities, I believe, planning to establish their campuses in India, and on the people-to-people ties front, we had the privilege — I myself had the honour — to open two new consulates in Manchester and Belfast.' According to the British High Commission, bolstering economic and migration ties and delivering further growth opportunities for British businesses are top on Lammy's agenda. 'The visit follows the historic Free Trade Agreement agreed between the two countries and will deliver on this government's commitment to boost jobs and prosperity. The new deal with India is expected to increase bilateral trade by over £25 billion every year, UK GDP by £4.8 billion, and wages by £2.2 billion each year in the long run, putting money back in the pockets of working people,' it said. Lammy said: 'India was one of my first visits as Foreign Secretary, and since then has been a key partner in the delivery of our Plan for Change. Our relationship has gone from strength to strength — securing our future technologies, adding over £25bn in trade every year between our countries and deepening the strong links between our cultures and people. 'Signing a free trade agreement is just the start of our ambitions — we're building a modern partnership with India for a new global era. We want to go even further to foster an even closer relationship and cooperate when it comes to delivering growth, fostering innovative technology, tackling the climate crisis and delivering our migration priorities, and providing greater security for our people.' The visit comes as some of India's top business leaders endorsed the trade deal which will increase opportunities for trade and investment between the UK and India. It also comes ahead of the launch of the UK's modern Industrial Strategy, which London says, will make it quicker, easier and cheaper to do business in the UK. On May 2, the UK and India signed a new UK-India Programme of Cultural Cooperation to boost collaboration across the arts and culture, creative industries, tourism and sport sectors. The agreement will open the door for increased UK creative exports to India and enable more partnerships between UK and Indian museums and cultural institutions, helping to grow UK soft power. At the 13th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in April, UK's Chancellor Rachel Reeves had welcomed £400m of trade and investment wins set to boost the British and the Indian economy and deliver economic growth and security for the working people. Lammy had travelled to India on his first official visit as Foreign Secretary in July last year, when he announced the TSI. Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism '2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury's special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban's capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
As Pakistan fails to get into ‘expected' UNSC panels, India in talks with friends
India is working with its partners and friends on the UN Security Council to blunt Pakistan's moves, as Islamabad has been appointed to key counter-terror committees at the UNSC. Sources in New York told The Indian Express that Pakistan demanded to be the chair of the 1267 Sanctions Committee; 1540 (Non-Proliferation) Sanctions Committee; 1988 (Taliban) Committee and Chair of the 1373 Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC). Sources said the allocation of positions 'should have been undertaken by January 2025'. It is learnt that a 'lack of consensus and unreasonable demands' by Pakistan prevented a consensus being formed till June 2025. 'The Council members were not happy with this … attitude depicted by the Pakistan,' a source said. Pakistan had to be satisfied with 'only one full Chairship' — Chair of the 1988 (Taliban) Sanctions Committee [Russia and Guyana are the Vice-Chairs], sources said . The other positions are Vice-Chair of the 1373 CTC [along with France and Russia]; Sanctions Informal Working Group (IWG) [Co-Chair with Greece] and Documentation IWG [Co-chair with Denmark.] 'The… positions allocated to Pakistan is far below its… aspirations,' the source said. India also chaired the same 1988 (Taliban) Sanctions Committee during its UNSC 2021-22 term along with the Chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee. Sources said the position of Vice-Chair of 1373 CTC which Pakistan was allocated is 'not something very substantive'. 'It is… more ceremonial in nature. Pakistan… has not been able to get its way. India was the Chair of the 1373 CTC in 2022. India had earlier also, during its 2011-12 UNSC term, chaired the 1373 CTC.' For the first time in the history of the UNSC, an IWG will have two co-Chairs. This can be interpreted as a move by the Council to rein in Pakistan. Despite the Pakistani delegation's visit to the UN, the result is not something Pakistan will be happy with. This reflects Pakistan's standing and credibility in the UN, sources said. Sources said all the major terrorist attacks and networks have their origins in Pakistan. Some examples are: Sources said Pakistan's role as a state sponsor of terrorism is well known. 'Out of around 254 individuals and 89 entities designated in the 1267 Sanctions Committee (Al-Qaeda and ISIL), Pakistan has the unrivalled distinction of over 50 individuals and entities linked to it designated in the 1267 Sanctions Committee… it is Pakistan which is at unease… that more of its nationals and entities will be added to the Sanctions Committees/Regimes.' The source said India will be working 'closely with friends' in the Council. Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism '2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury's special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban's capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- India Gazette
David Lammy calls on PM Modi, conveys UK's strong interest in furthering cooperation in key sectors
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shared the details of the meeting in an official statement. As per the MEA, PM Modi expressed satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement and Double Contribution Convention and appreciated the constructive engagement by both sides that led to this milestone. PM Modi also welcomed the growing momentum in bilateral ties and expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He welcomed the continued collaboration under the Technology Security Initiative and noted its potential to shape trusted and secure innovation ecosystems. The statement noted that Foreign Secreatary David Lammy conveyed UK's strong interest in further enhancing cooperation across key sectors including trade and investment, defence and security, technology, innovation, and clean energy. He expressed confidence that the FTA will unlock new economic opportunities for both countries. 'The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues. UK Foreign Secretary strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and expressed support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism. PM Modi underscored the need for a decisive international action against terrorism and those who support it,' the statement said. The statement also noted that PM Modi conveyed his warm greetings to the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and reiterated the invitation to visit India at the earliest mutual convenience. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Saturday and shared the details in a post on X. PM Modi appreciated the progress made in the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and also mentioned the recently concluded FTA between the two countries. He appreciated the UK's support to India in the fight against cross-border terrorism. PM Modi wrote on X, 'Pleased to meet UK Foreign Secretary Mr. David Lammy. Appreciate his substantive contribution to the remarkable progress in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, further strengthened by the recently concluded FTA. Value UK's support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism.' (ANI)
