After Pahalgam, Indian Lawmakers Embark on Global Offensive Against Terrorism

A month has passed since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam reignited longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan in the disputed territory of Kashmir. It was one of the deadliest assaults in recent memory and a rare one aimed at tourists. 

Though a ceasefire was signed on May 10, bringing an uneasy halt to weeks of hostilities, many questions loom. Chief among them are the nature of the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan's alleged role in assisting terrorist groups, and the wider regional implications. 

Seeking to reinforce an international coalition, a delegation of Indian parliamentarians has embarked on a diplomatic tour to explain New Delhi's position. Their first stop in Asia was Japan.

Hosted by Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George in Tokyo on May 22, an event at the Embassy brought together seven parliamentarians from India. The delegation included four lawmakers from the ruling party and three from the opposition, forming a rare bipartisan solidarity.

During their trip, the all-party delegation met with former Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Japan-India Association Yoshihide Suga to discuss the recent incident. The team also held talks with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Takashi Endo, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security.

India Shaping Global Narrative 

Among the issues discussed at Thursday's Embassy session was the extent of Islamabad's involvement in the April onslaught.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a militant group primarily active in Kashmir, claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. TRF is regarded as an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based Islamic group designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, Japan, and several others.

On May 7, the Indian military launched a retaliatory Operation Sindoor, targeting what New Delhi described as "terrorist sites" in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In the following days, both sides engaged in tit-for-tat exchanges involving drone strikes, artillery, and limited aerial skirmishes. 

Asked during the session to provide evidence linking Pakistan to the April 22 attack, Indian parliamentarian Abhishek Banerjee held up a photograph. It showed a coffin wrapped in the Pakistani flag. "This is the funeral of slain terrorists during India's response operation. They received state honors," Banerjee said. 

Banerjee added that senior army officers were present at the funeral site, reiterating what he described as Islamabad's long-standing record of supporting terrorist organizations.

The delegation also stressed Pakistan's history of military dominance. "Real power rests with the military even under civilian rule," said parliamentarian John Brittas. Pakistan's policies, including its sponsorship of terrorist groups, are often shaped by strategic calculations rooted in its rivalry with India, he noted.

Pakistani officials have rejected allegations linking it to the Pahalgam attack and deny using terrorist groups as instruments of state policy.

Pakistan's Leverage

Satoru Nagao, a non-resident fellow at the Hudson Institute, says that Pakistan's ties to militant groups are undeniable. "There is ample evidence that Islamabad has instructed and trained terrorist organizations," he said. "The real question is how much control the government exercises over them."

From an international standpoint, Nagao said, "Pakistan qualifies as a state sponsor of terrorism." On that basis, he believes India's determination to root out its neighbor's terror activities and camps is genuine.

Another regional connection, Nagao notes, lies in the dynamic between Afghanistan and Kashmir. With Pakistan situated between the two, it plays a pivotal role. When Pakistan trains and sends militants to Afghanistan to assert its influence there, tensions in Kashmir tend to subside and vice versa. 

This, he argues, explains why Kashmir flares up when Afghanistan is stable, and quiets down when Afghanistan is in turmoil. "To many extent, Pakistan is controlling the ebb and flow of both conflicts."

Regional Implications

While the physical battle has been confined to the disputed region of Kashmir, the implications of the India-Pakistan conflict extend far beyond. During the days of tit-for-tat strikes, Pakistani forces reportedly deployed Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets, and officials claimed that Chinese missiles were used to down Indian aircraft. 

"All in all, the brief skirmish served as a ground to showcase the superiority of Chinese military equipment," said Yoshiaki Yano, a security expert and president of the Japan Forum of Security.

"Chinese air defense systems, missiles, and jets were deployed, and Pakistani forces claimed some victories. Buoyed by this success, Beijing may look to expand its defense exports to the Middle East, Africa, and other parts of Asia," he added.

Indian officials have not confirmed the shootdown of their jets.

Although no direct evidence links Beijing to the Pahalgam attack, the timing has also drawn attention.

"The incident occurred just as China was hit with major tariffs from the United States," said Nagao. "Companies were considering shifting operations to India to offset the impact, but that plan seems indefinitely on hold after a clash between two nuclear-armed states."

Say No to Terrorism

Attendees at Thursday's event were shown a 22-minute address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The speech, originally delivered on May 12, marked his first public appearance following the launch of Operation Sindoor.

Modi outlined three guiding principles for India's future counterterrorism response. First, any attack on India will be met with a decisive response. Second, New Delhi will not bow to nuclear blackmail and will target terrorist hideouts with precision. Third, the Indian government will treat state sponsors of terrorism no differently than the terrorists themselves.

Banerjee noted that India has repeatedly suffered terrorist attacks from across the border. Part of the delegation's mission, he said, is to help build a multinational response to ensure justice is served. To that end, Banerjee thanked Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for his "early support in standing with India against terrorism."

In recent years, Japan and India have boosted military cooperation to counter China's expanding presence in the Indo-Pacific. Those exercises also include a general strengthening of regional counter-terrorism efforts.

The delegation's regional trip continues in the coming days, including stops in South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and several other Asian countries.

RELATED:

• The Pahalgam Terror Attack and the Indian Response 
• Senseless Acts of Terror Shatter the Calm Between India and Pakistan
• Why the India- Pakistan Ceasefire Must Hold

Author: Kenji Yoshida