India’s all-party delegation on Operation Sindoor thanks UAE for zero tolerance against terrorism

Dubai: An all-party delegation of Indian Members of Parliament (MPs) on Friday concluded a two-day UAE visit to spread the message of zero tolerance against terrorism in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor.

The delegation wrapped up the visit by thanking the UAE for its strong stand on zero tolerance against terrorism after meeting ministers, high-ranking officials, community members, and think tanks.

The delegation said they paid obeisance at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, and the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara in Dubai, sending a strong message of harmony, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence—the values shared and cherished by both India and the UAE.

The delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde, comprised Bharatiya Janata Party’s SS Ahluwalia, Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, and Manan Kumar Mishra; Biju Janata Dal’s Sasmit Patra; Indian Union Muslim League’s E.T. Mohammed Basheer; and former diplomat Sujan Chinoy.

They addressed the media in Dubai on Friday evening and expressed their gratitude for the overwhelming reception accorded to them by the UAE government.

Highlighting the importance of international unity in fighting terrorism, the delegation called for global cooperation to combat terrorism and champion progress.

“The UAE's position aligns with India's, with both countries committed to rooting out terrorism in all its forms,” Shinde said.

“Everyone should stand and fight united against terrorism because it is not and it will not be restricted to India alone,” he said.

Speaking about the united stand among Indian political parties when it comes to counter-terrorism, he said: “We are Indians first, and then the party leaders. Back in India, we may have ideological differences. But when it comes to India, we are one and we carry a common message to the entire world – that of peace and zero tolerance against terrorism.”

While the delegation said their message comes from the 1.4 billion Indians, the message of peace and tolerance spread by the UAE has touched the hearts of millions of Indians living here.

The Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, said the delegation received a warm welcome, highlighting the strong strategic partnership between India and the UAE.

He thanked the UAE for the environment of peace, harmony, and tolerance that the country has provided for residents including the large Indian exapt community.

Expressing gratitude for the UAE's solidarity with India, Sudhir pointed out that the UAE was among the first countries to issue a categorical statement condemning the Pahalgam terror attack and calling for rooting out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

“The UAE was, again, one of the first countries to come out with a categorical statement welcoming the ceasefire,” he said.

While bilateral trade crossed $100 billion last financial year, he said that India-UAE relations extend far beyond trade and cultural ties.

Meanwhile, as part of the Indian government’s global outreach programme, seven all-party delegations are visiting India’s key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council.