Latest news with #Shringla
India Gazette
6 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
Baijayant Panda-led all-party delegation briefs EAM Jaishankar on anti-terror outreach in Gulf, North Africa
New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): An all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda on Tuesday briefed External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on their recent international visits aimed at promoting India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. The MPs shared feedback from their engagements abroad, highlighting support received from India's international partners. Former Foreign Secretary and delegation member Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the meeting with the EAM at South Block was 'quite fruitful.' 'The meeting was really good; feedback was given to the External Affairs Minister. All delegation members shared their views, and I think the minister got the feedback from the mission as well. But this time, the delegates have shared it first-hand,' Shringla told reporters after the meeting. 'He (EAM Jaishankar) said that the journey was quite successful, our objectives were completed, and he congratulated the delegation members and leaders,' he added. Apart from Panda and Shringla, the delegation included BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak, and Rekha Sharma; AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi; and Satnam Singh Sandhu and Ghulam Nabi Azad. The delegation, during their visit, engaged with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria, and briefed India's international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, as well as its broader fight against cross-border terrorism. The delegation returned from Algeria on Tuesday. Indian Ambassador to Algeria, Swati Vijay Kulkarni, praised the strong support extended by the North African country in combating terrorism. 'During their visit to Algeria, they had very successful and productive engagements. They had two important meetings... During all these engagements, Algeria strongly condemned terrorism. They said that Algeria stands with India on the issue of terrorism. They also said that Algeria will take only the side of justice. So, we are very happy that they have given a very clear and strong message for India to remain united on terrorism,' Ambassador Kulkarni said. Before departing Algeria, Shringla also emphasized the importance of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in curbing terror financing, particularly in Pakistan. 'The issue of terrorist financing was very much a part of all of our conversations. The leader of our delegation and individual members also explained that as long as Pakistan was on the grey list of the FATF, they were responsive; they were forced to be responsive and to the extent that Sajid Mir, a very wanted person under the UN Security Council's list, had been declared dead by Pakistan but when the FATF took up the issue and there was some serious financial pressure brought to bear on Pakistan, then they declared that he was alive,' he said. (ANI)
India Gazette
7 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"FATF important to deter, stop inflow of funds to terrorist organisations in Pakistan": Former FS Shringla
Algiers [Algeria], June 2 (ANI): Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, is very important to 'deter and stop the inflow of funds to terrorist organisations' and also the Pakistan government's 'utilisation of funds,' said former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla here on Monday. Pakistan was included in the grey list in 2018 and removed from it in 2022. India has stated that it will leave no effort to bring Pakistan onto the grey list again. India has sent seven political delegations to various countries to 'project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations,' following the Pahalgam terror attack and India's counter, 'Operation Sindoor,' against Pakistan-based terrorists and the terror infrastructure. Shringla, who is part of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, underscored discussions on Algeria's influence in international fora like the UN Security Council and the African Union, expressing India's intent to counter Pakistan's potential misuse of its non-permanent UNSC membership amid India's global outreach in countering cross-border terrorism. 'The issue of terrorist financing was very much a part of all of our conversations. The leader of our delegation and individual members also explained that as long as Pakistan was on the grey list of the FATF, they were responsive; they were forced to be responsive and to the extent that Sajid Mir, a very wanted person under the UN Security Council's list, had been declared dead by Pakistan but when the FATF took up the issue and there was some serious financial pressure brought to bear on Pakistan, then they declared that he was alive. So terrorists who are dead have suddenly become alive thanks to the FATF. So the Financial Action Task Force is very important. It is important to deter and stop the inflow of funds to terrorist organisations and also the Pakistan government's utilisation of funds,' the former Foreign Secretary stated. The Indian government sources had said that New Delhi will send a detailed dossier to the FATF, outlining evidence and concerns regarding the involvement of certain entities and individuals in terror financing and money laundering activities. The dossier will highlight India's findings and demand strict scrutiny and action by the FATF under international protocols. 'The conversation was a lot about Algeria's actions in international and multilateral fora like the UN Security Council, where Algeria is currently a member, and the African Union, where Algeria exercises significant influence as the second-largest economy in Africa. And as a member of the OIC, also their influence on the Financial Action Task Force for the FATF process... We also pointed out to them that in the past, when we were members of the UN Security Council, we had been receptive and had worked closely with the Algerian delegation and that we would like to ensure that Pakistan does not take advantage of its current membership as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, which can influence the outcomes of the Security Council in any way detrimental to India's interests,' Shringla elaborated on the delegation's discussions with their Algerian government. Reflecting on the visit's success, Shringla added, 'I think the Algerian leg of the visit was very, very successful from our point of view. We had some very good interactions with the Algerian government representatives, but also with media, think tanks, friends of India, officials from the Algerian government and the Indian community. As far as the government is concerned, the chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of Algeria conveyed at the end of a fairly long and satisfying meeting.' The delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, also includes BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak and Rekha Sharma; AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi; MP Satnam Singh Sandhu and Ghulam Nabi Azad. 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 Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. (ANI)
India Gazette
25-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Operation Sindoor Outreach: Former envoy Shringla shares productive interactions in Bahrain
Manama [Bahrain], May 25 (ANI): Former Indian Envoy Harsh Vardhan Shringla outlined how the all-party delegation held comprehensive and interactive discussions in Bahrain with various quarters of Bahraini society on terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan. Sharing the details of interactions in Bahrain, Shringla told ANI, 'So the all-party delegation on its first leg of its tour in Bahrain had some very useful interactions. Earlier today, the delegation met representatives from the Indian community in Bahrain. I think that was a very comprehensive and interactive discussion'. He highlighted that the delegation, which comprised of members from 'very diverse parties, ideological sentiments, regions', had come together to speak in 'one voice'. 'But when they come here, they are speaking in one voice. I think that was greatly appreciated by the Indian community that the entire delegation is speaking in one voice on behalf of 1.4 billion people.' He added, 'There was appreciation for the forthright enunciation of the terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan and the delegation has given adequate examples and proof of the sort of experience that India has been going through for many decades now and also the new normal established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in dealing with the threat of terrorism from Pakistan.' He noted that the delegation held 'productive session with the leading members of Bahrain, including members of parliament, academics, intellectuals, business people, some members of the Indian community also.' Former Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla is a part of the all-party delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, and also includes Nishikant Dubey MP, BJP; Phangnon Konyak, MP, BJP; Rekha Sharma MP, NJP; Asaduddin Owaisi MP, AIMIM; Satnam Singh Sandhu MP; Ghulam Nabi Azad; and Ambassador Harsh Shringla. 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 Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. (ANI)
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
"Pakistan has reverted to terrorism every time it feels that India is making progress": Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and alleged that Pakistan has resorted to terrorism every time it feels that India is making progress."Their (Pakistan) effort is always to distract India, to weaken India, to ensure that the objectives that the people of India and the leadership have put into place are somehow you know stymied and somehow I think they want to reverse the clock through terrorism, and we've always seen that Pakistan has reverted to terrorism every time it feels that India is making progress whether it is 26/11, Puwama or a response to this has to be very, very strong, not just from India but from the entire international community," Shringla told added that the Central government needs to make sure that Pakistan learn that terrorism does not pay and that India will not tolerate any acts of terrorism against its people."It is adequate to make sure that they (Pakistan) learn that lesson that terrorism does not pay. I don't think any country is interested in any conflict or war. We have always been for peace, but we will not tolerate any acts of terrorism against our people. I mean that is an absolute red line, and it is incumbent on us to act in conformity with that principle," Shringla told also praised the Cabinet Committee on Security's decision to censure Pakistan diplomatically."I think the Cabinet Committee on Security, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has taken some very quick decisions to censure Pakistan diplomatically. One of these has been to put the Indus Waters treaty in abeyance, but also I think to cut down our diplomatic engagement with Pakistan, the High Commission's strength has been reduced. Military attaches on both sides have been asked to leave, and I think any loopholes in our visa system, including the SA visa system, have been curtailed. So in many senses, we have taken steps both to, I think diplomatically send a message to Pakistan, but also to enhance our security interests further," he attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen while leaving several others injured, in one of the deadliest attacks in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.
