Indian Ambassador Sujan Chinoy 

The recent visit of Group 4 of the all-party Indian MPs delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde and including former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy, marks a significant diplomatic initiative aimed at strengthening India-Africa cooperation in combating global terrorism, with a particular focus on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

The delegation's tour covered the UAE, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, where they were received at the highest levels of government, holding meetings with presidents, vice presidents, foreign ministers, national security advisors, and senior parliamentary leaders.

In addition to official engagements, the delegation interacted with the Indian diaspora, journalists, social media influencers, and think tanks, ensuring a broad-based dialogue on the threat of terrorism. The central objective of the visit was to raise awareness about the global threat posed by terrorism, especially that emanating from Pakistan, within the context of India's Operation Sindoor and its broader counterterror strategy. According to Ambassador Chinoy, this objective was fully achieved, with the delegation successfully sensitizing their interlocutors in both the UAE and West Africa to the dangers of Pakistan-based terrorist networks and the need for collective action.

Ambassador Chinoy highlighted the growing threat of terrorism in Africa, referencing recent United Nations reports that underscore the continent's vulnerability to global terrorist networks. He pointed out that terrorist organizations operating in Africa, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria, al-Shabaab in Somalia, Tanzania, and Kenya, and insurgent groups in Mozambique, have established linkages with networks based in Pakistan. The Sahel region, in particular, has witnessed a significant increase in terrorist incidents, making Africa a major center of global terrorism.

The discussions during the delegation's visit emphasized the changing dynamics of global terrorism and its expansion into Africa, reinforcing the necessity for India and African nations to collaborate closely in addressing this challenge. The outreach also served to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and to articulate India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.

Reflecting on his experience, Ambassador Chinoy described the mission as a humbling and privileged opportunity to serve alongside eminent members of parliament from various parties, underscoring the bipartisan commitment to the anti-terrorism cause. The delegation is part of a larger initiative comprising seven groups, each led by an MP, designed to counter global misinformation and project India's firm stance against terrorism on the international stage.

This initiative demonstrates India's proactive approach in building global consensus and cooperation against terrorism, particularly in regions increasingly targeted by transnational terrorist networks with roots in Pakistan. It also highlights the importance of cross-party unity within India on issues of national and international security, as well as the strategic significance of India-Africa relations in the evolving global security landscape.

Based On ANI Report