India's Global Outreach Diplomacy

Context

After Operation Sindoor, India has decided to send seven teams of all-party MPs (total 59 members) for global diplomatic outreach on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. It includes MPs from the ruling party as well as the opposition and diplomatic officials. The team will visit 31 countries and the European Union (EU).

About India's Global Outreach Diplomacy

• What it is: This is a major diplomatic campaign by the Central Government to take its message to the global platform in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 and India's military response 'Operation Sindoor'.
• Formation of delegation: As a part of this effort, all-party parliamentary delegations will be sent to major countries.
• Objective: To highlight through a unified national front how India has responded decisively despite being a victim of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
  • Task: The delegation will brief foreign governments and media on the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and India's comprehensive diplomatic stance on cross-border terrorism.
  • Delegation leaders from accompanying teams
    • Ruling Party: Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Srikant Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Sanjay Jha (Janata Dal (United))
    • Opposition: Shashi Tharoor (Congress), K. Kanimozhi (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP)

Significance of the policy

• Anti-terrorism stance: This campaign of India sends a message to the global community that it has a zero tolerance policy against terrorism.
  • Justifying Operation Sindoor under the right of self-defense (UN Charter, Article 51) shows India's diplomatic maturity.
• National unity: The leaders of the ruling and opposition working together demonstrate India's political unity which increases credibility on the global platform.
• Global cooperation: This campaign will help India garner support in global coalitions against terrorism, such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
  • Strengthening relations with Gulf countries, which also have close diplomatic relations with Pakistan, will be a diplomatic success for India.
• Soft power: India's diplomacy strengthens its image as a victim of terrorism, which garners global sympathy and support.
• Regional stability: This campaign underlines India's commitment to peace and stability in South Asia. At the same time, it highlights Pakistan's accountability.

Challenges

• Global perception: Some countries may see India's military action as aggression, which may make it difficult to garner diplomatic support.
  • Concerns may arise in Western countries about human rights and rules of war.
• Pakistan's counter diplomacy: Pakistan will use global forums such as the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to justify its position.
  • Pakistan's strong ties in the Gulf countries may pose a challenge to India's diplomacy.
• Regional tensions: The campaign may further increase tensions in India-Pakistan relations, increasing the risk of border conflict.
  • Pakistan's allies such as China may oppose India's diplomacy.
• Internal unity: Maintaining all-party unity may be challenging, especially if opposition parties begin to criticise government policies.
• Resources and coordination: A diplomatic campaign of such a large scale will require extensive resources, coordination and trained diplomats.

Way Forward

• Multi-level diplomacy: Promote track-2 (non-governmental) and track-1.5 (mixed) diplomacy, including think tanks, academia and civil society, along with government level.
• Use of global forums: Advance counter-terrorism resolutions at forums such as UNSC, FATF and G-20.
  • Work with allies (e.g. US, France, Israel) to build a global consensus on terror financing.
• Regional cooperation: Strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation in SAARC and BIMSTEC and enhance intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
• Economic diplomacy: Ensure diplomatic support by promoting investment and trade agreements in Gulf countries and Europe.
• Internal stability: Promote development and peace initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir to address human rights questions at global forums.
• Transparent Communication: Transparent communication to maintain public support for counter-terrorism policies.