Will India Equate Terrorists with Their Promoters? Insights from JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha in Indonesia

Jakarta, May 29 (NationPress) An all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha engaged in a profound dialogue with scholars and researchers from Indonesian think tanks and academic circles, asserting that India will no longer differentiate between terrorists and the nations that support them.

The delegation appealed for collaboration to find effective strategies to counter the threat of terrorism, reinforcing India's firm stance of zero tolerance aimed at preserving peace and stability in the region.

During the gathering, Jha commended the Indonesian government and President Prabowo Subianto for denouncing the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, expressing solidarity with the Indian populace and affirming that such violent acts are completely unjustifiable.

He conveyed a unified and bipartisan message from India, emphasizing the commitment to eradicate terrorism in all its forms.

"Today’s interaction with a reputable think tank and academic representatives serves as a crucial platform for shaping counter-terrorism policies. We aim to share India’s perspective and strategy to confront the terrorism challenge originating from Pakistan. The attacks in Jammu and Kashmir are orchestrated with malicious intent to disrupt normalcy and foster communal discord in India," stated Jha.

Reiterating India's firm position on terrorism, Jha asserted, "India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. Nations that harbor and promote terrorists cannot shield themselves behind the so-called nuclear umbrella. Any future terrorist activities in India will face decisive military responses."

"India, in alliance with countries like Indonesia, maintains a zero tolerance policy towards terrorism. Moving forward, we will not differentiate between terrorists and the nations that support them," he added.

The Indian delegation also conducted fruitful discussions with key Indonesian officials, including the Vice Chairman of Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, the Chairperson of the India-Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Secretary General of ASEAN, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Indonesian representatives unequivocally condemned terrorism and backed India's stance of zero tolerance.

"We have been actively seeking Indonesia's support in identifying terrorism, its backers, and financiers at all significant international platforms. In the fight against terrorism, neutrality is not an option; every nation must unite to combat this menace," Jha emphasized.

"All stakeholders, including think tanks and academic institutions, have pivotal roles to play in countering extremist narratives and combating terrorism in all its forms. Today, we appeal for the support of Indonesia's think tank and academic community to influence policymakers in crafting future strategies," he continued.

The delegation, headed by Jha, comprised BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Hemang Joshi, and Pradan Baruah, as well as Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Barittas, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, and former Indian Ambassador to France Mohan Kumar.

In discussions with IANS, delegation members highlighted the positive engagements where they communicated India's resolute stance against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

"We received a very encouraging response during our meetings here. Indonesia, a multicultural society with a Muslim majority, respects India’s standpoint," Jha noted.

BJP MP Brij Lal remarked, "Engagements in Indonesia have been highly productive. We have conversed with local leaders and ASEAN ambassadors, sharing India’s position. We emphasized India’s nature as a peace-loving nation and its aspirations to become a developed nation by 2047."

"In contrast, our neighbor’s mindset is problematic, engaging in terrorist activities that hinder our progress. We reiterated India's response following the April 22 Pahalgam attack and the subsequent actions against terror bases in Pakistan, noting that Prime Minister Modi stated any further terrorist actions would be treated as acts of war against India," he added.

Congress MP Salman Khurshid also indicated that Indonesia responded positively to India's actions against terrorism.

"Prior to our visit, we were advised to observe Pakistan's activity in the region and the narratives in circulation. However, I am pleased to report that Indonesia's outlook is very supportive. Their experiences and contexts closely mirror those of our nation. The people of Indonesia are also concerned about terrorism and have faced it themselves, fully understanding our challenges," he mentioned.

BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi added, "The experience in Indonesia has been overwhelmingly positive. Our delegation members engaged with local politicians and a wide range of citizens. It's safe to say that there is a strong consensus against terrorism here, with a collective desire to eliminate it. Everyone recognizes India as a peace-loving nation that does not tolerate terrorism."

"India remains focused on its development. If Pakistan continues to support terrorism, the international community will respond. We visited Japan, South Korea, and Singapore before coming to Indonesia, and all these nations oppose terrorism and advocate for peace and stability. Our visit has been successful thus far, with strong support for India during this challenging period," she concluded.