New Delhi [India]: The Congress on Monday launched a strong critique of the Central government during a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting on cross-border terrorism, raising several questions regarding India’s strategic positioning and diplomatic posture in relation to Pakistan.
Congress sources said the party questioned the government on a range of issues, including the increasing international perception of an “India-Pakistan hyphenation,” India’s abstention on an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to Pakistan, the growing military and strategic alliance between Pakistan and China, and a recent statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggesting a role in mediating peace between the two South Asian nations.
“The government was unable to explain why India-Pakistan hyphenation is now a reality. The Congress also raised the issue of the IMF loan to Pakistan and India’s abstention. Congress raised its concern about deepening military and strategic ties between Pakistan and China, and also raised Marco Rubio’s statement on brokering peace between Pakistan and India,” party sources stated.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar chaired the meeting of the Consultative Committee on External Affairs and posted on X following the session:
“Chaired the Consultative Committee Meeting of MEA this morning in Delhi. Discussed Operation Sindoor and India’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Underlined the importance of sending a strong and united message in that regard.”
Sources present at the meeting said the panel was informed that the government aimed to strike high-value targets early during Operation Sindoor, significantly impacting the morale and credibility of the Pakistani military, which failed to safeguard the terror epicenters within its territory.
The government also informed the panel that aside from three countries, no international entity had criticized India’s actions, and there was widespread appreciation of India’s right to self-defense. A specific reference was made to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who backed India’s position during a joint press briefing with Jaishankar in Berlin on May 23.
“We were appalled by the brutal terrorist attack on India on the 22nd of April. We condemned this attack on civilians in the strongest terms… India, of course, has every right to defend itself against terrorism… Germany and India have been fostering a regular dialogue on the fight against terrorism for years, and we intend to intensify it further,” Wadephul had said.
Congress also raised the recent controversy surrounding claims that the Indian government had tipped off Pakistan ahead of Operation Sindoor. Government sources clarified that there was no communication with Pakistan except at the DGMO level, and that too only after the strikes had taken place.
The External Affairs Minister termed such allegations as “dishonest misrepresentations.” The official sequence, as clarified, was that terror hubs were targeted first, followed by a formal message from India’s DGMO to their Pakistani counterpart.
MPs also questioned the government over past remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan. In response, the government reiterated its consistent stance: “Terror and talks cannot go together.” The Minister confirmed that any ceasefire understanding came only after military channels between the two countries communicated post-strikes.
In concluding remarks, Jaishankar made a strong appeal for national unity. He urged that the bipartisan spirit exhibited by the Indian parliamentary delegations abroad, who were tasked with explaining India’s position post-Operation Sindoor, should be reflected domestically as well.
The Modi government has launched a broad diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, forming seven multi-party delegations to convey India’s stance on cross-border terrorism to global capitals.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. The Indian Armed Forces struck terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating over 100 militants associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.