What happened?
An All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Member of Parliament Sanjay Kumar Jha, visited the Republic of Korea (ROK) to brief Korean dignitaries on India’s stance of zero tolerance against terrorism, specifically Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. The delegation highlighted Pakistan’s involvement in orchestrating the terror attack and its efforts to cause social disharmony in India. They informed Korean officials that India’s initial and subsequent response was “measured, targeted, non-escalatory, and responsible”. The delegation reaffirmed India’s “New Normal” of swift and decisive retaliation against terrorism on India’s terms and reiterated that dialogue cannot coexist with terror, emphasizing that no distinction can be made between terrorists and their sponsors. The Korean side conveyed their firm opposition to terrorism and expressed understanding of India’s position.
Why it matters to India
This visit is crucial for India to convey its “New Normal” policy of swift and decisive retaliation against terrorism to international partners. Gaining understanding and support from countries like South Korea for India’s counter-terrorism measures helps in isolating state sponsors of terrorism in global forums, including the FATF.