‘Attack on Country’s Soul’: Indian MPs Target Pakistan in Global Diplomatic Outreach

Doha, Qatar: In a rare show of unity, Indian parliamentarians from both ruling and opposition parties have joined forces on a diplomatic mission to shape international opinion against Pakistan, following the deadly attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives and nearly pushed the two nuclear neighbours to war.

The delegation, led by opposition Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule, arrived in Doha as part of a larger outreach effort by the Modi government. Over several days, the team held talks with Qatari officials before moving on to South Africa, with planned visits to Ethiopia and Egypt.

Describing the Pahalgam attack as an “unprecedented attack on India’s soul,” Sule underscored the deep national trauma caused by the incident. “This attack has shaken every Indian,” she said during a news conference in Doha. The delegation’s purpose is clear — to build global consensus against Pakistan, which New Delhi accuses of supporting terror groups responsible for decades of violence in Kashmir and across India.

India has blamed Pakistan for the April 22 assault in Pahalgam, where attackers specifically targeted men based on religion, sparking intense military retaliation and an eventual ceasefire between the two countries. Islamabad denies involvement.

The Indian government has dispatched seven such delegations to over 30 countries, involving MPs and retired diplomats, aiming to conduct “preventive diplomacy” and raise awareness of Pakistan’s alleged role in cross-border terrorism.