- 6/5/2025
India First special broadcast features BJP National Vice President Bijayant J Panda discussing India's diplomatic efforts in Islamic nations. Panda, who led a multi-party delegation to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria, explains India's stance against terrorism and Pakistan's misuse of foreign aid. He highlights the strong reception in these countries and their alignment with India's anti-terrorism position. The discussion also covers opposition comments on the ceasefire and Pakistan's attempts at counter-diplomacy.
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00:00United Overseas conveying a very strong message, terrorism is unacceptable to India, but so
00:07divided back home, especially with comments like Narendra Sarender.
00:12To talk more about this, joining me on India's first special broadcast is Bijayant J. Panda,
00:18National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, five times MP from Udesha.
00:23He incidentally headed the multi-party delegation which visited key countries Saudi Arabia,
00:28Kuwait, Bahrain and Algeria. Mr. Panda, welcome. What was your message to strategic partners like
00:36Saudi Arabia and how was your message received by other Islamic countries through this visit
00:42since Pakistan continues to play the Muslim card? First, I think it's important to note that
00:50we had a phenomenal reception and excellent engagements in all these four countries
00:57countries. And the fact is that India doesn't really need to justify itself. All these countries
01:03have relationship with India going back thousands of years. They understand what we are all about.
01:11They know that we have not invaded any of our neighboring countries. Also, these countries
01:16have been the victims of terrorism themselves and have taken very, very strong actions against
01:22terrorism. So, they are on the same page when we go with this message. One more thing. In the last decade,
01:29Prime Minister Modi has worked very hard to build a relationship with the leaderships of these nations.
01:36And some of them have given him their highest civilian honours. They have huge regard for him.
01:43They have huge respect for India. And this economic miracle that India is once again becoming
01:49is something that they are very cognizant about. They kept pointing it out to us and they want to be part of
01:54this success story economically and militarily. So, in recent years, there have been military cooperation agreements
02:01with some of these nations. And we have already started joint military exercises with some of them.
02:06For example, with Saudi Arabia. So, all this in the backdrop was very much in our favor and we found ourselves
02:14on the same page as them. Now, our message was very clear. Our message is that we have gone through this same cycle of terrorism,
02:23for 78 years. Pakistan sending cross-border terrorists and the whole cycle, the whole rigmarole,
02:31provoking attacks and nuclear blackmail. And so, we were there to explain the new normal,
02:39new India's new normal, which is that A, we will retaliate and we will specifically target terrorist bases.
02:47Two is that we don't want to escalate. We don't have anything against the Pakistani people.
02:52But if they escalate, we will hit them back and make it very costly for them.
02:58But never go anywhere near the nuclear threshold. And that nuclear bluff has been already exposed and called out.
03:05And the third thing is that going forward, we now have economic sanctions in place.
03:10We have economic sanctions on trade, on visas, on shipping and on water.
03:15And we explained to them what Prime Minister Modi has articulated that these things have been kept in abeyance
03:23because we want that Pakistan should correct its ways, should mend its ways. And if they take action
03:30against these terrorists who are openly operating on their soil, then we will respond in a friendly manner.
03:35Okay. But, you know, countries like China, for example, or Turkey or Azerbaijan,
03:41they're openly standing with terror or Pakistan state-sponsored terror. Will countries that you visited
03:49stand by India at critical times, for example, at the United Nations Security Council,
03:54given that Pakistan will hold the presidency through the month of July, sir?
03:58So, let me explain it as follows. Please keep in mind that some of these nations we visited are on
04:08the UN Security Council and they have been party to banning some of these terrorist organizations
04:16and individuals who are operating freely in Pakistan. Also, some of these nations have been part of the
04:22FATF, the Financial Action Task Force, which had earlier put Pakistan on the gray list and
04:28controlled its terrorist activities to some extent. And keep in mind, that over the last couple of
04:34decades, the… you know, these are all Islamic countries, but their path and Pakistan's path
04:40have diverged quite a bit. All these four countries have taken very strong actions against jihadism and
04:46Salafist elements… Yes.
04:48…and they have totally rubbed them out from operating in their own soil. Whereas, Pakistan has gone the
04:56opposite direction. Pakistan continues to encourage jihadis and fundamentalist elements. So, there's a
05:02divergence in their relationship with Pakistan. The second thing is, keep in mind that some of these
05:08countries have helped Pakistan financially in past years and they have seen that aid be misused. Now, all these
05:16countries have developed their schools, their roads, their colleges and hospitals. But Pakistan has taken their money
05:22and instead of using it for the same purpose, has used it to finance terrorism. These are things that they are
05:28very unhappy about. And they did make it very clear to us that, you know, they stand with us.
05:34Now, remember, all of them have issued strong statements against terrorism and specific to the
05:40Pahalgam attack. And in fact, since Prime Minister Modi was in Saudi Arabia when that attack happened,
05:46the Saudi statement was the strongest of all, attacking terrorism, condemning terrorism,
05:51condemning specifically the Pahalgam attack and specifically mentioning cross-border terrorism.
05:56So, I think the path forward looks very good in terms of our cooperation with these nations.
06:02You know, you mentioned that some of these countries have funded Pakistan in the past
06:08and Pakistan plays that religion card. But have we been able to send across that message and you
06:14leading that delegation that funds meant for development has actually gone to fund radical
06:20Islamist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohmad, Hezbollah Mujahideen
06:24and other terrorist organizations or funded the Pakistan army directly, sir?
06:28They see Pakistan and India in completely different light. They see Pakistan as a problem child.
06:38They do have sympathy for its poverty. They have sympathy for the crores of Pakistani children
06:45who are not in any school. They have sympathy and they want to help Pakistan become normal.
06:51And they are aware that Pakistan is not becoming normal and has misused their help and misused their support
06:57for becoming even worse than before. Now, they see India as an opportunity.
07:01So, they see us in totally different light. And so, when we took up these issues
07:05and we specifically mentioned that, look, some of you nations helped put them on the FATF blacklist
07:11and they were somewhat subdued on supporting terror for a few years. But now that they are off the grey list,
07:17they are back at it again. This message found a great deal of resonance.
07:21So, I am very optimistic that going forward in both in some public forums,
07:27but especially in private behind-the-scenes efforts, they are going to certainly take some steps
07:33which will not be very encouraging for Pakistan. It will… I am pretty confident. It will start pushing Pakistan in the direction of correcting itself.
07:45Okay. But if I come to the situation in India internally and politically, the Congress Party says, and I quote,
07:53no country called Pakistan a terrorist state. The Congress also said Kuwait, for example, has lifted visa restrictions on Pakistan.
08:01They have talked about Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Gulf countries signing MOUs with Pakistan.
08:07Russia, for example, signing an MOU with Pakistan to revive some old steel mill.
08:13The opposition here says this is success of Pakistan's diplomacy. Do you see this as success of Pakistan?
08:20And perhaps India not succeeding in sending across that message that these countries are actually helping a terrorist state?
08:28Our experience on this tour and discussing with the senior political leadership, discussing with the senior parliamentary leadership,
08:38with think tanks, with the media, with Indian diaspora, gave us a very different viewpoint indeed.
08:45Look, some of these things were in the works. You know, regarding Kuwait's visa regime for Pakistan,
08:51they have had very tight controls and this slight relaxation was in the works for several years.
08:57So, I don't think necessarily you should treat it in the context of what has happened in the last month or so.
09:06Now, secondly, I would say that, you know, as I said, these countries' attitudes against fundamentalism has changed a lot
09:16and Pakistan has gone in the opposite direction. That's why you are seeing very strong statements from them
09:21and strong actions in the UN Security Council, in FATF and also in OIC.
09:28I would urge you to see the following. I would urge you to see that several countries have already recognized Pakistan for what it is.
09:39Now, having sympathy for a fellow Islamic State and its beleaguered population is one thing
09:46and having a zero tolerance approach towards terrorism is another thing.
09:51I want to tell you that all of these countries have faced terrorism.
09:55In fact, Algeria has faced terrorist attacks from Pakistani trained terrorists, trained in Peshawar.
10:01So, they have great clarity. Also, they have been targeted by ISIS, they have been targeted by Al-Qaeda,
10:10which means that when Pakistan shielded Al-Qaeda's leader Osama bin Laden for years and years and years,
10:19these countries have a very bitter experience from that with America having to go in and eliminate Osama bin Laden.
10:25And so, today, they are very, very unhappy about Pakistan continuing to openly shelter, train, fund and arm sanctioned terrorists,
10:35whom these countries have played a role in sanctioning openly on its soil. So, this all goes in our favour.
10:42Okay. But leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi, for example, he says ceasefire was, if I may use his words,
10:51Trump said, Narendra, surrender. And he said, Ji, Hazur, a word to that effect.
10:57Your take, is that also the global appreciation that ceasefire was under US pressure?
11:06Listen, I don't think we should take this Nepo Baby's comments seriously.
11:10Because, look, it's only these two or three individuals who are frustrated who are making these kind of comments.
11:17Even from his party, several members played a vital role in our delegations going out and communicating India's point of view.
11:26Now, we had members from opposition and government. We had members representing all parts of India,
11:32speaking different languages and representing different faiths.
11:36In my delegation, the eight members spoke eight different mother tongues and represented five different religions.
11:41Now, this is a moment that we should celebrate and cherish. Because this political unity that you are seeing.
11:47Now, we may have differences domestically. But on the international front, when it comes to terrorism,
11:53when it comes to India's interest, everybody is united. And it's not just in politics.
11:58This unity reflects the unity that you are seeing in society. You can go to any part of India,
12:04talk to people of any background, any section of society, you will see and sense this unity.
12:09So, two or three frustrated people who make these silly comments, I don't think are to be taken seriously.
12:17They are playing into the hands, either wittingly or unwittingly, of Pakistan.
12:21They are being extensively quoted in Pakistan. You know, sometimes I wonder,
12:26there are less members of our opposition and more members of Pakistani government agencies.
12:32Sir, that's a grave charge to level. You know, calling Rahul Gandhi a nepo baby or frustrated is one part.
12:40But playing into the hands of the adversary is a very, very strong charge on the leader of opposition.
12:44You know, on your assessment, on what are you basing this assessment on, sir?
12:50Well, wittingly or unwittingly, I don't know what I should conclude.
12:56But clearly, you know that he is being cited extensively in the Pakistan media and by Pakistan government.
13:03So, clearly, it is playing to Pakistan's narrative, not in the aid of India, not to take the stand in favour of India.
13:15Mr. Panda, opposition parties have sent Prime Minister Narendra Modi a letter demanding a special session of parliament on Pehelgaam and also Operation Sindur.
13:27Given that such discussions or sessions were also held post-Kargil in 2611,
13:34is the government okay with it or will the government only go ahead or is the party only in favour of this being discussed during the next session of parliament?
13:42Look, I think in the normal course of parliament, which dates for the monsoon session have been announced today, many issues can come up.
13:53And as it happens, on the issue of Operation Sindur, the government and our armed forces have given extensive briefings right from the beginning and continually.
14:05So, there is nothing that is not being discussed.
14:08And as you know, there have been all party meetings that have been to take everybody into confidence and also the briefings that our delegations had.
14:18And all these delegations had members of the opposition were very extensive, giving all facts and figures.
14:23So, you know, I don't want to comment on their demand.
14:28But the fact is that all these issues are being discussed and will be discussed.
14:33Okay.
14:34And across the border, perhaps following in India's footsteps, but even Pakistan is sending delegations overseas.
14:41There's a delegation in the United States of America, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is speaking extensively there.
14:47Is that a challenge for India, uniting the world against Pakistan state-sponsored radical Islamist terror?
14:55Or our personal interests or countries wanting to ensure that India doesn't rise, those countries will continue to support Pakistan?
15:05I don't see Pakistan's copycat efforts as being, you know, worthy of us being concerned because they have the same old narrative.
15:19You know, this is the same Pakistan which for more than a decade kept saying that Osama bin Laden is dead.
15:26And this is the same Pakistan which, for example, the current US president in his earlier term openly exposed.
15:36This is the same Pakistan that has, you know, it's been a parasite on those who have helped it in the past.
15:46So, nations may have their own geopolitical interests for whatever they do.
15:51But, you know, Pakistan is like the emperor that has no clothes.
15:56It's quite shameless, but everybody knows what it is.
16:00True, you're absolutely right on that front because Aasip Munir promoting himself to the rank of field marshal after losing to India,
16:10after having more than 13 of his air bases and radar stations slammed after 9 terror bases were attacked,
16:16it just sounds completely bizarre.
16:19But Jay Panda, you headed that multi-party delegation to countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Algeria
16:25for joining me here on India First. Many thanks.
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