‘Operation Sindoor Must Go Global’: Supriya Sule Leads India’s Anti-Terror Message in South Africa

Johannesburg : Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, leading an all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation in South Africa, has called for international recognition of Operation Sindoor, urging the global community to stand with India against terrorism. Addressing the Indian diaspora in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Sule emphasized that the terror attack in Pahalgam had left a deep wound in the heart of every Indian worldwide.

“Operation Sindoor must not be confined to India and Pakistan alone,” Sule said. “Prime Minister Modi had expressed his wish that this operation carry a global message—that India will not tolerate terrorism and that peace must not come at the cost of innocent lives. The Pahalgam attack was one of the most traumatic experiences we’ve faced. It was not just an attack on people; it was an assault on the soul of India.”

She recalled how, in 2014, Prime Minister Modi extended a gesture of goodwill by inviting leaders of neighbouring countries to his swearing-in ceremony, symbolizing India’s commitment to regional peace and cooperation. “The intention was to see the subcontinent prosper together in harmony. But the Pahalgam incident has shown that our peace efforts were not reciprocated,” she said. “This tragedy has shaken Indians everywhere. We are grateful that South Africa has stood in solidarity with us.”

The terror attack in Pahalgam, which saw 26 Indian civilians brutally murdered, has sparked outrage across India and among Indian communities abroad. The attack has been claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-backed terror group. According to Sule, the government’s response through Operation Sindoor was a strategic, proportionate, and precise measure aimed at dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism while avoiding escalation.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who is also part of the delegation, underlined Pakistan’s continued role in harbouring and sponsoring terrorism. “For 15 days after the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan did nothing. That’s when our armed forces responded decisively, striking nine terror launchpads. Even some of the terrorists reportedly admitted that entire families were wiped out. One even said—‘It would’ve been better if I had gone instead.’ That’s how severe the impact was.”

Thakur pointed out that Pakistan is home to 52 entities and individuals listed by the United Nations Security Council for terrorism. “It is the only country in the world with such an extensive roster of UN-sanctioned terror affiliations. And yet, it continues to deny responsibility and take no corrective action,” he added.

Thakur also condemned the selective killing of victims in the Pahalgam attack. “People were targeted based on their religion, and murdered in front of their families. This was nothing less than a massacre. Pakistan spreads terrorism not just in India, but across the world.”

Congress MP Manish Tewari added to the joint statement, describing terrorism as “pure evil” and emphasized the importance of a global movement to eradicate it. “Terrorism has no religion, no ideology—it is evil, plain and simple. After this horrific incident where 26 innocent citizens were executed in cold blood, India is reaching out to the global community to build consensus against those nations that use terror as an instrument of state policy.”

Tewari reinforced India’s long-standing commitment to peace. “India has always desired a peaceful neighbourhood and still does. But we cannot and will not tolerate terrorism that has been emanating from Pakistan for over 45 years.”

The Indian Parliamentary delegation in South Africa includes MPs from various political parties and former diplomats and ministers, reflecting a united front on the issue of cross-border terrorism. Along with Supriya Sule, the delegation includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Anand Sharma (former Minister of Commerce and Industry), V. Muraleedharan (former Minister of State for External Affairs), and Syed Akbaruddin (former Permanent Representative of India to the UN).

During their address in Johannesburg, the delegation reiterated India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism. They explained that Operation Sindoor was a measured, targeted, and proportionate response to the Pahalgam attack, showcasing India’s commitment to counterterrorism without escalating regional tensions.

The leaders also called for a united international effort to stop differentiating between terror groups and to dismantle the cross-border terror infrastructure that has threatened India for decades. “There is no such thing as a good terrorist or a bad terrorist. The sponsors and protectors of these groups must be held accountable by the international community,” they said.

The delegation’s South Africa visit began on May 27 in Johannesburg, and on Wednesday, they are scheduled to visit Cape Town for meetings in the South African Parliament and with various government ministers. Their mission is clear—to take India’s anti-terrorism message to the global stage and build international solidarity against terrorism.

Through this outreach, India aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact of terrorism and to ensure that those who support or harbour terrorists are isolated globally. As Supriya Sule put it, “We want peace. But not at the cost of our innocent, hardworking citizens. The world must hear our voice.”