Multi-party delegation meets Jaishankar after 4-nation tour on Operation Sindoor
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met members of a multi-party delegation and received feedback from them on how they exposed Pakistan in various countries over its support to terrorism.
The delegation led by BJP leader Baijayant Panda met Jaishankar at his office here after the key diplomatic tour and presented their report.
The delegation returned home Tuesday morning after visiting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Algeria.
In these countries, the delegation members met foreign dignitaries and Indian diaspora during a series of meetings and exposed Pakistan's support to terrorism in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor.
"It was a very good meeting, and we gave External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar our feedback. All members of the delegation provided their inputs and shared their views with him," said delegation member Harsh V Shringla, a former foreign secretary.
Asked what the minister told them, he said, "He (Jaishankar) told us that our objectives were fulfilled and congratulated the delegation and its leader".
Panda told reporters that their visit abroad was successful where they could explain India's "new normal" against Pakistan over terrorism.
He said the delegation members were united and gave a very strong message to the countries they travelled.
"A successful four-nation tour — Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Algeria. All four countries have taken clear steps against terrorism and understand India's principled stand...," he said in a post on X.
Panda said the countries they visited understand India and its history has been such that "we don't need to give any justification".
"We are a country of non-violence and have provided shelter to people from several countries. We had wanted to give the message of India and the new normal that we will retaliate terrorist violence. We ave also imposed economic sanctions and our goal is that Pakistan should stop its policy of supporting terrorism," he told reporters.
Panda also said that the countries they visited are supporting India, not just in economic growth but also against terrorism.
Other delegation members who met the external affairs minister included former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Phangnon Konyak, Rekha Sharma and Satnam Singh Sandhu.
Other members of the eight-member delegation included Nishikant Dubey and Asaduddin Owaisi.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
39 minutes ago
- The Print
Tharoor-Congress feud sparks buzz in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency, unease in party unit
While Tharoor continues to make waves within the Congress Modi government's efforts at political diplomacy, voters in his Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency—where he has won four consecutive terms—still appreciate his independent voice. But within the local Congress unit, there is caution, with some leaders uneasy about him speaking against the party line. The Congress leader's remarks in Panama last week were slammed by Congress leader Udit Raj, who publicly accused Tharoor of disparaging the party's 'golden history' and provocatively suggested he should be the 'BJP's super spokesperson'. Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calling India's 2016 surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) a 'first' has drawn sharp criticism from within the Congress, since it contradicts the party's position that similar strikes occurred under UPA. Back in his constituency of Thiruvananthapuram, though, the comment has generated a different kind of buzz. Voters and local Congress leaders are watching Tharoor's moves closely—while some admire his individual appeal, others interpret the remark as a sign of his growing national ambitions and political recalibration. A local Congress functionary, who wished to not be named, said Tharoor's 'continuous praise for Modi has put the party in a difficult position with the public'. 'He can't continue praising Modi. It's making it difficult for us here as people question us on why the leaders are praising the BJP.' The functionary added that while the party has instructed its members not to speak against Tharoor, he should also be mindful and ideally raise internal disagreements within the party. Tharoor's relationship with the Congress party has soured in the past weeks due to his public deviations from official party stances. He has repeatedly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, most recently endorsing India's military response, 'Operation Sindoor', after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, saying it was 'well done'. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, though, swiftly clarified that Tharoor's statements did 'not reflect the party's stance'. Ramesh later also accused the Centre of playing 'cheap political games' by selecting Tharoor to lead an all-party delegation to explain India's position on the conflict with Pakistan, especially since the Congress had provided four MP names for consideration, and the Centre still chose him even though he wasn't on the list. Earlier, Tharoor had also drawn criticism from party leaders over his 2-day visit and meeting with US President Donald Trump, which he maintained was 'good for India', even as his colleagues were vocally attacking the Indian government over the repatriation of Indians from the US. However, despite some local resentment over his long absences, the functionary quoted above noted that Tharoor continues to win because voters ultimately want the Congress to remain in power. Also read: Shashi Tharoor's loyalty keeps colliding with Congress scepticism—while his global stature grows Changing perceptions, declining margins Tharoor has held the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, which encompasses seven Assembly segments, since 2009, but recent electoral trends indicate a discernible weakening of his support base. His victory margins, close to one lakh in both 2009 and 2019, dropped considerably in 2014 and, more recently, in 2024 to just 16,077 votes against BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar. ThePrint visited three Assembly segments within the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency—Kovalam and Neyyattinkara, where Tharoor had leads of over 15,000 votes, and the Thiruvananthapuram Assembly segment, where he led by over 4,000 votes—to understand the sentiment among local Congress workers and voters. Voters largely expressed admiration for Tharoor's 'non-partisan' views but also noted his frequent absences from the constituency and the prevalent factionalism within Congress. Stanley, a 51-year-old resident of Vizhinjam in the traditional Congress stronghold of Kovalam, believes Tharoor'is speaking the truth'and that his knowledge and education drive his statements. Stanley feels the party isn't recognising Tharoor enough, prompting him to voice his dissent. He views the current tussle as a minor part of larger infighting within the party. Shubha V., 44, also a resident of Vizhinjam, similarly said Tharoor has a 'good name and reputation, which has created the perception that he might be right'. A local fisherman in Vizhinjam, 50-year-old Abilis George, too, feels the ongoing disagreement is 'just a result of the Congress's internal fight'. 'The Congress is hugely divided. They don't have any consensus on a stand. We can't blame Tharoor for that,' he added. However, Antony S., a 42-year-old Congress supporter from Kovalam who has campaigned for Tharoor in past elections, including in 2024, expressed regret at voting him in again. 'It was a mistake to re-elect him. He hasn't done anything here,' he said. He added that he voted for him to secure a win for the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, and finds Tharoor's praise for the BJP disheartening. He emphasised that Tharoor's votes are largely 'party votes' and that he 'can't win without a party'. Nandakumar, a 54-year-old grocery store owner in Neyyattinkara, appreciated Tharoor as 'a good person and a global citizen', but urged him to consider his voters. 'He is hoping to get more power and position in the BJP, it seems. But he should stay with the party's policies. Without the Congress, he will not win,' said Nandakumar. He added that Tharoor's votes have significantly reduced due to his perceived poor performance as an MP. Sudheer M., a 53-year-old auto driver in the same town, feels Tharoor is being unfairly targeted. 'It looks like the Congress is throwing him out. He is just saying what is true.' Another resident of Neyyattinkara, 74-year-old Somasekharan Nair, said Tharoor has never praised the PM blindly, he is only 'admitting to the good deeds of other politicians'. Nair added that it seemed like Tharoor wanted to join the BJP. 'It looks like he is not satisfied with his position in the Congress. But it's not right to show it openly,' he said. Younger voters, like 39-year-old Shyamjith M. and 24-year-old Sudhin Gokul S., view Tharoor as a well-meaning intellectual who 'speaks beyond politics', while the Congress's reaction to him has been 'political'. Gokul noted a shift in Tharoor's votes to Chandrasekhar in 2024, as people saw the latter as an 'equal alternative'. In Thiruvananthapuram city, too, voters had mixed reactions. Shaji H., a resident of Thiruvananthapuram's Balaramapuram, said that though Tharoor is a good MP, the backing of the Congress is important for his victory from the constituency. He, too, said that Tharoor's recent activities suggested he was interested in joining the BJP. 'His individual support is decreasing here. If he goes to the BJP. He will not win,' he said. Congress functionaries feel 'betrayed' While the public expressed a mixed reaction, local Congress functionaries largely agree that Tharoor's victory is primarily due to the party's influence rather than his charisma. A party functionary in Vizhinjam and another in Neyyattinkara said that while Tharoor's international stature helped, 'the votes came for Rahul Gandhi and INC'. In Kovalam, too, functionaries consistently believe Tharoor's success is party-driven. One such functionary in Kovalam's Mokkola said Tharoor was able to win despite his absence from the constituency because of the coastal community's support for the Congress, and the perception that Tharoor's victory was due to his votes is wrong. 'First term, he performed well. But now there's a distance from Congress workers. People here vote for the party symbol, not him,' he said. The leader said that Tharoor's continuous praise of the BJP is a 'bad mistake'. 'It's local Congress functionaries who worked for his victory. He is doing a one-man show to get claps beyond party lines. It looks like he wants to show he can do a lot even without the support of the party.' he said. 'But it's not true.' (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also read: After Tharoor, Congress now has a Salman Khurshid problem as ex-minister lauds Article 370 abrogation
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Dassault, TASL to make complete Rafale fighter jet fuselages in Hyderabad
Dassault, TASL to make complete Rafale fighter jet fuselages HYDERABAD: In a major boost for `Make in India' and `Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, the entire fuselage of the Rafale fighter aircraft will now be made in India at Hyderabad, marking the first time that these components will be manufactured outside France. Rafale's manufacturer, French aviation giant Dassault Aviation, has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section. As part of the tie-up, TASL will set up a dedicated production facility to manufacture the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet with a capacity to deliver up to two complete fuselages every month. The first of the Rafale fuselage sections is slated to begin rolling off the assembly line in Hyderabad in FY28. The move marks a significant step forward in strengthening India's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains, and the proposed facility represents a significant investment in India's aerospace infrastructure that will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing, TASL said on Thursday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 새로 나온 '실비보험' 최적가 가입추천! "月 보험료 낮추고, 보장은 실속있게"... 굿리치 보험대리점 (등록번호:제2006038313호) 가격 받기 Undo "For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. Thanks to the expansion of our local partners, including TASL, one of the major players in the Indian aerospace industry, this supply chain will contribute to the successful ramp-up of the Rafale and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements," said Dassault Aviation chairman & CEO Eric Trappier. Terming the partnership as a significant step in India's aerospace journey, TASL CEO and managing director Sukaran Singh said, 'The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in TASL's capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation' 'It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms,' he added. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India.com
40 minutes ago
- India.com
Who is 'Madam N' from Pakistan, ISI agent accused of building an army of 500 spies in India, she runs..., her name is...
Since the Pahalgam terror attack, relations between India and Pakistan have been severely strained. Several Indian YouTubers and citizens have recently come under scrutiny after being accused of allegations of spying on behalf of Pakistan. The individuals are accused of having passed on confidential information or conducted online activities that threatened national security, further fueling the already charged atmosphere between the two countries. One such person is YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, was also accused of spying against India. The first hearing of Jyoti's case will be held in the Hisar court on June 9. Lawyer Kumar Mukesh, who will plead Jyoti's case in Haryana's Hisar District Court, said that Jyoti has made videos for her YouTube channel at different places and has also gone abroad with a visa. On May 26, the court sent Jyoti to judicial custody for fourteen YouTuber was arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information and being in continuous contact with a Pakistani citizen. She allegedly met a Pakistani officer, Ahsan-ur-Rahim, in Delhi, travelled to Pakistan twice, and shared sensitive information. During the preliminary investigation, the woman told the police that she went to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023 to apply for a visa and met a man named Ahsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish. According to sources cited by NDTV, a businesswoman running a 'travel agency' in Lahore, Pakistan, has been identified as the key figure behind facilitating visits of Indian social media influencers to Pakistan. She is believed to have laid the groundwork to use them as spies, raising serious concerns over cross-border espionage efforts. Sources reveal that Noshaba Shehzad, a businesswoman operating under Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), played an important role in facilitating the travel of Indian social media influencers to Pakistan. Through her Lahore-based company, 'Jaiyana Travel and Tourism', she assisted individuals like Jyoti Malhotra, who was recently arrested, along with several others, in entering the country. As per the NDTV report, Sources say that during the interrogation of arrested social media influencers in India, investigators uncovered the name of a key figure—Ms. Noshaba Shehzad, known within Pakistan's ISI by the codename 'Madam N.' Shehzad's role, they allege, was far more than just arranging travel. She had been quietly working to build a vast sleeper cell network of at least 500 individuals—people trained to blend into everyday life and operate undetected across India. According to sources cited by NDTV, Ms. Shehzad is married to a retired officer of the Pakistani civil services. Acting on detailed instructions from the Pakistani Army and the ISI, she was tasked with establishing a sleeper cell network within India, designed to operate discreetly and avoid detection.
