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India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"India is ready and has capability to fight terrorism on its own": Former Dy NSA Pankaj Saran in London
London [UK], June 1 (ANI): Former Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Saran, who is part of the delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad as part of Modi government's big diplomatic outreach following operation Sindoor stressed that India is ready and has the capability to fight terrorism on its own. He also expressed optimism that the delegation will be 'able' to highlight India's stand on terrorism. On breakfast briefing by High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, Former Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran told ANI, 'It is a fruitful program in London, meeting everyone, a big diaspora, media, think tanks, Parliament, every cross section. We have very strong historical ties with the UK... The High Commissioner briefed us in a very comprehensive way on the whole question of terrorism, what we should be the mood in London is... We are very hopeful and very positive that we will be able to convey the message that we have come to do. We have a very senior delegation of members of Parliament, highly experienced, cutting across party lines, across all regions of India. There can be no one better than them to explain India's position. There's a lot of optimism, hope and confidence in the Indian delegation...' He also undercored the support of UK (in India's fight against terorism). 'UK's support is very important. The delegation here is to convey that this is the new normal for India, that India is ready and has the capability to fight terrorism on its own. What we are looking for is understanding. The actual actions and solutions can only be found by India. The messaging this time is quite different...' The delegation, arrived in London on Saturday (local time) as part of India's global outreach program to convey the country's firm stance against terrorism. The delegation landed in the United Kingdom after completing visits to France, Italy, and Denmark, where they engaged with government officials, diaspora, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Upon their arrival, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, 'We are here in London. We will keep our stance on terrorism effectively, here. We believe that we will get that support here as well, the way we have received the support in those three countries.' The delegation also includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, MJ Akbar, Gulam Ali Khatana and Samik Bhattacharya; Congress MP Amar Singh, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. (ANI)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
India is ready and has capability to fight terrorism on its own: Former Dy NSA Pankaj Saran in London
Former Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Saran , who is part of the delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad as part of Modi government's big diplomatic outreach following operation Sindoor stressed that India is ready and has the capability to fight terrorism on its own. He also expressed optimism that the delegation will be "able" to highlight India's stand on terrorism. On breakfast briefing by High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, Former Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran told ANI, "It is a fruitful program in London, meeting everyone, a big diaspora, media, think tanks, Parliament, every cross section. We have very strong historical ties with the UK... The High Commissioner briefed us in a very comprehensive way on the whole question of terrorism, what we should be the mood in London is... We are very hopeful and very positive that we will be able to convey the message that we have come to do. We have a very senior delegation of members of Parliament, highly experienced, cutting across party lines, across all regions of India. There can be no one better than them to explain India's position. There's a lot of optimism, hope and confidence in the Indian delegation..." He also underscored the support of UK (in India's fight against terorrism). "UK's support is very important. The delegation here is to convey that this is the new normal for India, that India is ready and has the capability to fight terrorism on its own. What we are looking for is understanding. The actual actions and solutions can only be found by India. The messaging this time is quite different..." Live Events The delegation, arrived in London on Saturday (local time) as part of India's global outreach program to convey the country's firm stance against terrorism. The delegation landed in the United Kingdom after completing visits to France, Italy, and Denmark, where they engaged with government officials, diaspora, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Upon their arrival, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "We are here in London. We will keep our stance on terrorism effectively, here. We believe that we will get that support here as well, the way we have received the support in those three countries." The delegation also includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, MJ Akbar, Gulam Ali Khatana and Samik Bhattacharya; Congress MP Amar Singh, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi.
India Gazette
7 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Commonality of understanding about India's position: Ravi Shankar Prasad on Italy's support in fight against terrorism
Rome [Italy], May 29 (ANI): BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is leading a multi-party delegation to Italy on Wednesday (local time) highlighted the success of delegation's meeting with Italian parliamentarians and said that there was commonality of understanding about India's position against terrorism. Speaking with ANI, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, 'We had a very good meeting with the India caucus in the National Assembly and the Senate, it was a brilliant exchange. What is a matter of great assurance for us is that there was a commonality of understanding about India's position and also Italy's vis-a-vis the cancer of global terror. India and Italy have a good relationship. They also assured their commitment to work with us for the cause of peace and amity...' Additionally, Former Deputy NSA and Ambassador Pankaj Saran, who is also part of the delegation, said that Italy appreciated India's restraint in not escalating the conflict with Pakistan. Saran also added that Italy recognised India's right to self-defence and target terrorists during Operation Sindoor. 'What I liked very much was the comment by I will not say by whom, but one of them, they appreciated the Indian restraint and the fact that we did not escalate. But they recognised our right to self-defence and to target the terrorists. That, for me, is very encouraging. Also, I think we are putting across very clearly that the problem is terrorism; there can be no justification. We have also really highlighted the link between terrorism and state sponsorship in Pakistan. And I think that message has gone home very well,' Pankaj Saran said. India's Ambassador to Italy, Vani Rao said, 'Its a crucial visit and for us, there are many takeaways. First, it was an engagement after a critical incident in India and a significant policy shift in terms of terrorism. Having the MPs here gave us an opportunity to address the other Parliamentarians, think tanks, media, and the Indian community, and to speak to them that the nation speaks in one voice, and we are very unwavering in our commitment to address terrorism. It was also an opportunity to convey that our strategic partnership with Italy was very important.' Earlier in the day, Ravi Shankar Prasad-led delegation interacted with India-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group, chaired by Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata in Rome. The delegation also held meeting with President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and European Commission of Italy's Chamber of Deputies, Giulio Tremonti. The delegation, led by Prasad, includes Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya from BJP, Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena-UBT, Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh from Congress, MJ Akbar, and Ambassador Pankaj Saran. All of the seven delegations are on a diplomatic mission to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism supported by Pakistan. (ANI)
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Purpose of visit to convey seriousness of terrorism to French interlocutors": Former Dy NSA Pankaj Saran
Paris [France], May 26 (ANI): Former Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Saran, who is part of the all-party delegation to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism, said the visit is aimed to convey to the French interlocutors that 'state sponsorship of terrorism' is dangerous and affects all countries. In an interview with ANI, Saran called it imperative that nations like India and France 'cooperate with each other,' as the India-France relationship rests on some very 'solid fundamentals,' including intelligence sharing to security cooperation, to the fight against terrorism. 'I think the purpose of our visit is to convey to the French interlocutors the seriousness of the problem of terrorism, international terrorism, state sponsorship of terrorism and to remind them that this problem is live, it is dangerous and it affects all countries and it is therefore imperative that countries like India and France, which are multicultural democratic common values have to cooperate with each other and the good thing is that the India-France relationship rests on some very solid fundamentals, including not just culture or trade or economic, but some of the most important dimensions of the relationship relate to intelligence sharing, to security cooperation, to the fight against terrorism, against radicalization, extremism, etc. So, there is a very solid foundation,' he said He spoke on how India has suffered due to terrorism for long and mentioned the new normal in India, 'that terrorism and its sponsors will have to pay a price.' 'The fact is that India has suffered for too long and the cycle of terrorism is something which is very difficult to live with for India and to accept the fact that this is in fact India's fate that every few years we will absorb a terrorist incident. We will absorb loss of innocent lives and that we have to live with this reality. This is not the normal. The attacks and then the counter response by India, specially the counter response, the basic message of the counter response is that there is a new normal now in India that terrorism and its sponsors will have to pay a price. And if you look at the record of the way India has been a victim, and if you look at the record of how all of this has been documented even in the Security Council Resolutions 1267, particularly, it is extraordinary. It is not India saying all of this. It's the world body, the Security Council, which has recognised there are names and names and details of Pakistani-based leaders, groups. There's a whole literature out there, so the fact that Pakistan has become and is and remains the source of this terrorism is something which is not what India alone is saying. So these are some of the messages which we will bring across,' he added. He said that Indian delegation will meet parliamentarians, members of the French media, representatives of think tanks and the government and emphasise India's position. He said that members of the delegation will also meet even those who have doubt regarding India's stance and mentioned that they are looking forward to a 'very frank, forthright and productive exchange.' On purpose of the meetings in France, Pankaj Saran said, 'I think the purpose of this visit is to reach and talk to a wide cross section that includes parliamentarians, members of the Senate, members of the French media, representatives of think tanks, and of course the government. So, we will meet a lot of people cutting across, even those who have some doubts about the Indian position, about they have questions to ask. We are going to be here to answer those questions, to talk to them.' 'So, we're looking forward to a very frank, forthright and productive exchange so that when we leave, there will be a better understanding of how India thinks and what happened and what is the logic and what was the objective of Operation Sindoor and what are the problems we face because at the end of the day with India as an economy as it is. It is today much more than the past become globally significant. So, it is no longer a matter of something which is relegated to the Indian subcontinent. What happens in India affects the world. So, there is global interest in all of this. So these are some of the dimensions we talk about,' he added. Saran emphasised that the French support is 'critical'for India. He lauded the ties between India and France, which are 'based on a very high degree of trust,' adding that there is a 'very high degree of unanimity on the threats we face.' 'I think the French support is critical. I mean, if you look at the record of the relationship. It stands out as one of the few relationships which actually has had no real problems. On the contrary, it is based on a very high degree of trust because if you don't have trust, you cannot cooperate on intelligence and security and military matters, which we do. So, there is a very high degree of unanimity on the threats we face,' Saran said. 'And on the responses and on the policy options that we have, not just vis a vis the Indo-Pacific region, but including and particularly with regard to, as I told you, radicalization, counter-terrorism, extremism, and what are the threats that multicultural, multi-ethnic, open, democratic societies face and how these deviant forces try to exploit. In our case, of course, unlike the French case, we have a situation where the whole state machinery of a neighbouring country. is geared to create problems and to promote terrorism in India. So, we have a special problem. We are dealing with it. We have the capacity to deal with it on our own. We have shown it, and we will continue to deal with it. We will increase our capacities, but we also want to sensitise and seek support from our friends,' he added. The former diplomat Saran is part of the delegation, led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, which also includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, M J Akbar, Ghulam Ali Khatana and Samik Bhattacharya; Congress MP Amar Singh, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in France, UK, Germany, EU, Italy and Denmark. Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were killed brutally. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
How Operation Sindoor left Pakistan stunned – The truth no one told you
India hit hard, Pakistan panicked, and then came the ceasefire. India's former Deputy National Security Advisor broke down 'Operation Sindoor'. Pankaj Saran opened the lid on a range of explosive issues: the backstory behind 'Sindoor', India's bold strike that shook Pakistan to the core, the 'hasty' ceasefire that followed, the role of Donald Trump, and the looming threat of nuclear blackmail that changed everything. From deep-penetration precision strikes to a strategic dismantling of key terror infrastructure, this wasn't just a show of strength — it was a message. The truth is bigger than headlines — and it's finally coming out — straight answers, sharp questions, and unfiltered insight with Hindustan Times' Kumkum Chadha.
