India’s Global Diplomatic Outreach Expands: All-Party Delegation Arrives in Latvia Amid Post-Pahalgam Campaign
As part of India's intensified global diplomatic initiative following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, an all-party parliamentary delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi arrived in Riga on May 29. The delegation was welcomed by the Indian Ambassador to Latvia, H.E. Namrata S. Kumar, at Riga International Airport.
The six-member team includes MPs Rajeev Kumar Rai (RJD), Prem Chand Gupta (RJD), Ashok Kumar Mittal (AAP), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), and former Indian Ambassador to the UN and EU, Manjeev Singh Puri. Over the next two days, the delegation will meet with Latvian parliamentarians (Saeima), senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, think tanks, academics, and other key stakeholders to discuss bilateral cooperation and India’s position on cross-border terrorism.
This visit is one of several being undertaken by Indian MPs to foreign capitals under a coordinated global effort to build consensus on counter-terrorism. The campaign follows the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives. In its aftermath, India launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure across the border on May 7, prompting escalated military activity from Pakistan before both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.
In parallel to the Riga delegation, another team of Indian lawmakers led by Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor is currently in Colombia. That delegation—comprising MPs from across party lines including the BJP, Shiv Sena, JMM, and former U.S. envoy Taranjit Singh Sandhu—has held engagements with Colombian lawmakers, foreign ministry officials, and the media in Bogotá.
Speaking to local journalists, Tharoor conveyed India’s disappointment over Colombia's public condolences to Pakistan following India's counter-terror strikes. “There can be no equivalence between a nation defending itself and those enabling terrorism. We were hoping for solidarity with the victims, not their perpetrators,” he said. Tharoor also drew attention to China's role in arming Pakistan, noting that 81% of Pakistan’s military hardware originates from China, much of it allegedly used for offensive purposes.
The synchronized global visits underscore India’s broader aim: to shift the international narrative and build strategic alignment with global partners on the pressing issue of terrorism. Seven such delegations have been dispatched to 33 capitals worldwide, reflecting India's determination to assert its right to self-defence while fostering greater understanding of the regional security dynamics in South Asia.