Manama (Bahrain), May 27 (PTI) – During a busy diplomatic mission to the Middle East, Indian parliamentarians, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, visited the historical market area of Manama Souq, creating quite a stir among local workers. Workers at the Kohinoor and Evershine souvenir shops, situated at the entrance of Bab Al Bahrain, were surprised by the visit. While Kohinoor is owned by an Indian, Evershine employs Pakistani workers.
The delegation was engaged in critical meetings to discuss diplomatic outreach connected to the April 22 Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. Despite their tight schedule, they made this unscheduled stop at the market area on Saturday evening. Members of the delegation chatted with locals, took photographs, and quickly moved along.
"It was a pleasant experience seeing notable figures like (AIMIM leader Asaduddin) Owaisi, so I had to take a selfie," expressed an Indian worker at Kohinoor. Conversely, the Pakistani workers at Evershine observed the event with both amusement and curiosity. One worker commented, "We are here to work; we're not aware of the politics happening back at home."
Even with their different origins, the two shops generally work closely together, reflecting a unique relationship in the midst of broader international issues.
The primary goal of the delegation, which is one of seven multi-party groups traveling to 33 global capitals, is to engage the international community regarding Pakistan’s strategies and India’s counter-response to terrorism, especially in light of the recent Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the death of 26 individuals, along with the subsequent Operation Sindoor.
India aims to demonstrate to the Muslim world that these challenges transcend a bilateral conflict, framing them as part of the larger global terrorism issue. Some delegation members are drawing parallels between groups like ISIS and the terrorism India faces, highlighting the 'takfeeri' ideology, which labels others as apostates to justify violence.
"No difference exists between the terrorist organizations operating in Pakistan and the ISIS Takfiri ideology. This menace threatens all of humanity. They have exploited religion to justify killing, and the entire world is aware that Islam condemns terrorism," remarked AIMIM leader Owaisi. He emphasized, saying, "The Quran clearly states that the killing of one innocent person equates to the killing of all humankind."
In their interactions, the Indian delegation is emphasizing to the Muslim world that Pakistan's status as a Muslim-majority nation does not exempt it from accountability for its actions against India. The delegation is making efforts not only to engage political and governmental figures in the region but also to energize the Indian diaspora as part of the endeavor.
After a talk at the Indian embassy in Bahrain, Panda stated, "The Indian diaspora has evolved as a notable community that embodies India's soft power. We want to provide them with our perspective to further disseminate our message." Bahrain hosts an Indian population of nearly 350,000, while the Pakistani community numbers around half of this.
The delegations are meeting with key political leaders, government officials, civil society representatives, and think tanks in these countries to address queries, address concerns, and present a unified Indian viewpoint.
Panda further noted, "The Prime Minister has made our stance clear: we are open to talks with Pakistan on just two issues. Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India upon independence, yet Pakistan occupied part of the territory illegally. We seek to discuss only the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the cessation of terrorism in our talks with them."
Through these meetings, India aims to influence the perceptions of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members regarding its stance. BJP MP Nishikant Dube added, "We are purposefully communicating how minorities are treated differently. From independence to today, India's Muslim population rose from 9-10% to 20%. Conversely, Pakistan’s Hindu minority dwindled from 13% to 1%. Pakistan mistreats its minorities while exacerbating terrorism in India."
The delegation promotes a message of peace, asserting India's commitment to peace and its zero tolerance for terrorism. Other delegation members include Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Union Minister, Rekha Sharma, former National Commission for Women chairperson, and AIMIM leader Owaisi.
On the next leg of the mission, the delegation arrived in Kuwait from Bahrain on Monday, continuing to underscore India's firm stance against terrorism. Tensions with Pakistan intensified following the Pahalgam attack, with India responding through Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan subsequently attempted to retaliate with attacks on Indian military sites, which India countered. Hostilities de-escalated following discussions between the military operations directors of both countries.
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