Indian Delegation in South Africa sends strong message on terrorism: 'No more business as usual'
At a press conference held on Thursday at the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, the delegation condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and pointed a firm finger at Pakistan.
Image: Suppplied.
An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation visiting South Africa this week made it clear that India will no longer remain silent in the face of terrorism.
At a press conference held on Thursday at the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, the delegation condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and pointed a firm finger at Pakistan.
'Pakistan doesn't send delegations, it sends terrorists,' a senior member of the delegation said. 'The fact that the terrorists were draped in Pakistani flags tells us clearly where the attack came from. These attackers were celebrated in Pakistan. It's no longer business as usual. We want the world to know — especially our friends in South Africa — that we will respond to every act of terror with resolve.'
Sifiso Mahlangu, Editor of The Star sat with the leader of the all-party parliamentary delegation from India, NCP (SCP) MP Ms Supriya Sule, to discuss the current state of relations between India and Pakistan.
Image: Supplied
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The visit comes in the aftermath of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people lost their lives in what Indian officials have described as a cross-border terror assault. The Indian delegation's mission in South Africa is part of a global campaign to rally international support against terrorism and expose what they claim is Pakistan's continued involvement in sponsoring it.
The team, led by NCP MP Supriya Sule, is part of one of seven Indian parliamentary groups touring 33 capitals around the world. The South Africa leg of their trip took place from May 27 to 29 and included meetings with key political figures, civil society, and Indian diaspora members. South African Political Support.
The delegation received strong backing from South African political leaders, particularly from the African National Congress (ANC), which is part of the ruling coalition.ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who led the ANC side during a formal meeting, expressed solidarity with India and condemned terrorism in all forms.
'This meeting highlighted the importance of global unity in the fight against terrorism,' Mbalula posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). 'The ANC stands with the people of India during this difficult time.'
Other ANC leaders in attendance included Deputy Ministers of International Relations Alvin Botes and Thandi Moraka, ANC Youth League Secretary-General Mntuwoxolo Ngudle, and Parliament's Trade Committee Chair Mzwandile Masina.
The delegation also held discussions with South Africa's second-largest political party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), in Cape Town. DA leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen echoed support for India's stance against cross-border terrorism and expressed condolences to the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
In Pretoria, the Indian delegation met with Kenneth Morolong, Deputy Minister in the Presidency. Morolong acknowledged the Indian concerns and promised to raise them with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Outreach to the Community Tuesday, the delegation addressed more than 350 members of the Indian diaspora and local South Africans of Indian origin in Johannesburg.
They described Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism and urged the community to support India's efforts to counter global terror threats. Congress MP Manish Tewari, part of the visiting team, said during the event, 'Pakistan has been behaving like a rogue state.' The delegation also visited Constitution Hill, where both Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were once imprisoned.
'This site is a powerful reminder of our nations' shared history of resistance and resilience,' said Tewari. The group paid tribute at the Gandhi statue and viewed the Mandela-Gandhi Exhibition, inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a previous visit.
A Broader Mission
Besides Sule and Tewari, the delegation includes leaders from multiple Indian parties: BJP MPs Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur, and V. Muraleedharan; Congress leader Anand Sharma; TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu; AAP MP Vikramjeet Singh Sahney; and former Indian ambassador Syed Akbaruddin.
India's outreach comes after *Operation Sindoor* on May 7, where Indian forces carried out precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan responded with attempted attacks on Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10, which India repelled strongly.
From South Africa, the Indian delegation will continue its diplomatic tour with upcoming visits to Ethiopia and Egypt.
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