An all-party delegation of Indian Members of Parliament has embarked on a “peace mission” across the Americas with a clear message: India will not be cowed by terrorism. Leading the initiative is senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who emphasized that the delegation aims to make a bold international statement in the aftermath of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The group, composed of eight MPs and accompanied by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s former Ambassador to the United States, began their mission in New York on Saturday evening. Their first stop was the 9/11 memorial at the World Trade Center, where they paid tribute to the victims of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.
During their time in New York, the delegation also engaged with members of the Indian diaspora and addressed the media, reinforcing their central message of unity and resistance against terrorism. Following the New York visit, the group is scheduled to travel to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil. Their itinerary will conclude with a return to the United States, where they plan to meet with political leaders, lawmakers, and influential figures.
Before departing from India, Tharoor laid out the mission’s objectives. “The reason we are going is to speak for the nation, to speak about this horrendous crisis we were subjected to, in which our country was attacked by terrorists in the cruelest possible way,” he said. He further added, “We need to speak up with clarity and conviction for our country, for our response, and to give the world the message that we will not be silenced by terrorism.”
The mission is notable for its bipartisan makeup, showcasing a unified national stance against terrorism. Tharoor, from the opposition Congress Party, is leading the delegation. Other members include Shambhavi of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Sarfaraz Ahmad from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and Milind Murli Deora of the Shiv Sena. The team also includes Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and Tejasvi Surya of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with GM Harish Balayogi from the Telugu Desam Party, a partner in the National Democratic Alliance.
Their tour follows a particularly brutal incident in Pahalgam, where terrorists affiliated with The Resistance Front, a group linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba, carried out a massacre that killed 26 innocent civilians. India responded by launching targeted strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. In retaliation, Pakistan launched attacks on Indian territory, deliberately aiming at civilian sites. These included places of worship such as temples, gurudwaras, convents, and even medical facilities, significantly escalating tensions between the two nations.
The delegation’s decision to start their peace mission at the 9/11 memorial in New York was deliberate and symbolic. Tharoor highlighted the importance of this gesture, saying it underlined their determination to ensure global attention remains focused on acts of terror. “We don’t want the world to look away either. We don’t want indifference to try and forward the truth,” he explained.
The September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, which resulted in the deaths of 2,731 people, had connections to Pakistan. Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda who masterminded the attack, was later discovered living under the protection of the Pakistani government in Abbottabad. He was eventually killed there by the United States Navy SEALs.
Reflecting on the broader goals of the mission, Tharoor stated, “It’s a mission that will one day remind the world that India stands for all the values we need to preserve in the world today, of peace, of democracy, freedom, and not of hatred, of killing and on terror.” His remarks reinforce the delegation’s intent to represent India not just as a victim of terrorism, but as a global advocate for peace, tolerance, and democratic values.
The inclusion of leaders from both ruling and opposition parties underscores the shared commitment across the political spectrum to stand together in the face of terrorism. This rare show of unity is meant to bolster India’s image on the world stage and to confront global narratives that may downplay the threats the country faces.
While the delegation seeks to generate international support and solidarity, it also hopes to engage diaspora communities in spreading awareness about the realities of terrorism affecting India. Their engagements in countries across the Americas will serve both as outreach and as diplomatic soft power, emphasizing India’s resilience and moral stance against terror.
By combining symbolic gestures like the World Trade Center visit with strategic meetings across several nations, the delegation hopes to build a coalition of empathy and understanding. Their aim is to counter the efforts of groups and states that attempt to justify or minimize acts of terror against civilians.
In selecting a route that spans North and South America, including stops in countries like Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, the delegation is also acknowledging the significant presence of the Indian diaspora in these regions. These communities, often influential in their host countries, are seen as valuable partners in advocating for India’s message of peace and justice.
This tour comes at a critical moment when global attention is often diverted by regional conflicts or domestic crises in the West. The Indian MPs believe that by physically taking this message abroad, they can bring renewed focus to the global challenge of terrorism and to India’s experience and response.
Furthermore, their presence in the United States and their meetings with lawmakers and thought leaders are meant to strengthen Indo-US ties, especially in the context of shared experiences with terrorism. The historical connection through the 9/11 attacks and India’s own recent tragedy provides common ground for deeper cooperation and understanding between the two democracies.
In summary, the peace mission led by Indian MPs is as much about diplomacy as it is about remembrance and resistance. By visiting the sites of tragedy and engaging with international leaders and communities, they seek to make it known that India will neither forgive nor forget, but will also continue to uphold the values of peace, democracy, and human dignity.
Tharoor’s closing words encapsulate the spirit of the mission: “It’s a mission that will one day remind the world that India stands for all the values we need to preserve in the world today, of peace, of democracy, freedom, and not of hatred, of killing and on terror.”