Supriya Sule writes: How we combatted Pakistan's fake news in all-party diplomatic mission

Indian Express

2 hours ago

In today's post-truth era, where stories can be fabricated in a matter of hours and facts manipulated across digital media, the presentation of facts has become as important as the facts themselves. When 26 precious and innocent lives were lost in the Pahalgam attack, including a few of those whose families I have been in direct contact with throughout the crisis, India was not only facing a security challenge but a diplomatic imperative: to document, demonstrate, and deliver irrefutable evidence of Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism to important international stakeholders before disinformation could blur judgement.
Our eight-member delegation's May 24-June 4 mission, initiated just weeks following Operation Sindoor's proportionate, measured and focused retaliatory action, was conceived as a result of this strategic imperative. The choice of Qatar, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Egypt as our diplomatic ports of call was not arbitrary but the result of considered geopolitical calculations. These countries are not just friends and allies; they are voices whose endorsement amplifies India's stand. Qatar's presence in the mediation efforts of the Gulf lent vital Middle Eastern credibility. South Africa's ethical standing, based on the anti-apartheid campaign and personified through the Gandhi-Mandela legacy, conferred Global South legitimacy. Ethiopia, hosting African Union headquarters, and Egypt, bridging Africa and the Arab world while anchoring the Arab League, guaranteed broader regional impact.
Our delegation, comprising Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Anand Sharma (INC), V Muraleedharan (BJP), Manish Tewari (INC), Anurag Singh Thakur (BJP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (AAP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), and Syed Akbaruddin (Ex-Permanent Representative of India to UN), bore detailed evidence dossiers documenting Pakistan's role in the Pahalgam attack and its overall policy of state terrorism. I must also commend Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri for his tireless efforts, including briefing all delegations; Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh for their outstanding media briefings, bringing great pride.
The reception we received was telling. The bipartisan composition, with four Cabinet Ministers, brought authenticity to the mission. From Deputy Speaker Dr Hamda Bint Hassan Al Sulaiti and Minister Dr Mohamed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi in Doha to Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit in Cairo, the presentation of evidence found great resonance. In South Africa, our interactions with Deputy Chairman Les Govender, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo, and Democratic Alliance Leader John Steenhuisen re-emphasised commitment to fact over propaganda. The Silence the Guns by 2030 initiative of the AU was aspirational and should be treated at par with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Mandela-Gandhi continuum was nowhere so deep as in South Africa, where the common inheritance of non-violent resistance gave moral context to India's cautious and proportionate response. The interactions with the dynamic diaspora community demonstrated how historical connections translate into modern diplomatic capital. The same was true in Ethiopia. In our meeting with former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Deputy Chairperson of Prosperity Party Adem Farah, both conveyed profound gratitude for India's diplomatic continuity. The meeting with Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of People's Representatives of Ethiopia, who graduated from Aligarh Muslim University, was a classic example of India's soft power dividend, years of educational diplomacy generating capital that goes beyond political imperatives.
Operation Sindoor represented more than military precision; it embodied India's non-escalation doctrine: proportionate, targeted, and designed to deter rather than destroy. This continuing approach, refined across decades from Jawaharlal Nehru's emphasis on regional peace, Indira Gandhiji's courageous leadership, Manmohan Singh's goodwill to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charismatic diplomacy, has become India's signature response to terror: firm defence of sovereignty without regional destabilisation. Each nation we visited formally endorsed India's position, recognising our legitimate right to defend against terrorism while appreciating our commitment to proportionality. The support transcended specific incidents, extending to our broader approach.
But in the new landscape of information warfare, Pakistan tries to spin state-sponsored terrorism as isolated acts. Our evidence-driven diplomatic campaign made sure principal international stakeholders were provided with the necessary information before competing narratives could find footholds. This proactive strategy on India's part was instrumental in sustaining international support. The greatest achievement of the mission was consensus on core principles: Growth over grievance, development over destruction. In each capital, the leaders showed enthusiasm to negotiate trade and technology, rather than dwelling on conflict. This philosophy struck a chord throughout the Global South, where countries welcome India's partnership.
The paradox that characterises India's power is not our ability to destroy but our resolve to construct, to build bridges, to foster partnerships, and choose dialogue over discord. This disposition appeals to nations tired of power rivalry and grateful for cooperative partnerships. As the mission concluded, the results were both immediate and enduring. Four nations provided formal support, articulating a holistic approach to achieve zero terrorism, dozens of bilateral cooperation areas were identified, and countless assurances of solidarity were received. Most importantly, this mission enhanced
India's image as a country that marries strength with sagacity, capability with restraint. India opts for growth, partnership, and truth, and the world has responded with respect, assistance, and solidarity.
The writer is Member of Parliament & National Working President, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). She was the leader of the Seventh All-Party Delegation that visited Qatar, South Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt