India’s Anti-Terror Diplomacy Reaches Panama as Global Outreach Broadens

As part of India’s sweeping international campaign against cross-border terrorism, an all-party parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor will arrive in the Republic of Panama tomorrow. The visit, spanning May 27–29, marks yet another crucial stop after Operation Sindoor, India’s coordinated diplomatic effort launched after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives.

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The Indian delegation includes lawmakers from across the political spectrum—Dr. Sarfraz Ahmad, G M Harish Balayogi, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Milind Deora, Tejasvi Surya, and former U.S. Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. 

During the three-day visit, the delegation is scheduled to meet Panamanian leadership, media, Indian diaspora groups, and strategic interlocutors to advance India’s unequivocal message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Panama, a Central American republic at the nexus of global trade, has grown in geopolitical relevance in recent years due to its strategic location and open economic policies. However, it has also drawn scrutiny under U.S. sanctions frameworks for money laundering and non-compliance with financial transparency regulations. 

India’s outreach here is seen as an attempt to build bridges with countries navigating similar global pressures, particularly through international forums like FATF and the United Nations, where Panama has traditionally aligned itself with anti-crime and financial oversight resolutions.

In this context, India’s message in Panama aligns well with broader international concerns. Delegates are expected to raise the need for enhanced cooperation in disrupting illicit financial flows, cyber-linked terror financing, and establishing mutual support against terrorism at multilateral platforms. 

Panama, which has publicly supported U.N. counterterror frameworks, is likely to be a key partner in furthering India’s position at global institutions.

The Panama stop follows high-level engagements in South Korea, where Indian MPs met with former foreign ministers and counter-terror experts, and Kuwait, where a separate delegation held meetings with civil society and government leaders to build international consensus. In Kinshasa, Congo, a concurrent team led by Dr. Shrikant Shinde is engaging African counterparts on similar themes, while Bahrain reaffirmed its solidarity with India's position during MP-level talks earlier this week.

India’s outreach in Panama comes at a moment of strategic importance for the region. With growing interest from both the U.S. and China in Latin American logistics, maritime security, and digital infrastructure, India’s message carries a broader subtext of democratic cooperation and value-based alignment. 

The presence of Dr. Tharoor, a former UN under-secretary-general, adds significant diplomatic weight to the proceedings, particularly in emphasizing the international legal norms underpinning India’s position on terrorism.

Over the next two days, the Indian delegation will engage with Panamanian lawmakers, strategic thinkers, and diaspora representatives to build bridges and reinforce India’s call for collective global action against terrorism, grounded in clarity, unity, and sovereign responsibility.