Will Sierra Leone Stand with India Against Terrorism?

Freetown, May 31 (NationPress) A successful visit by the all-party Parliamentary delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde, has concluded in Sierra Leone. The delegation called for a united front at the United Nations Security Council, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and other international forums to address terrorism and maintain global peace.

The Vice President of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, expressed the nation's support for India during a meeting with the delegation, condemning the Pahalgam terror attack from April 22 that claimed 26 innocent lives.

“During the meeting with the All-Party Delegation, Vice President Jalloh denounced the terrorist attack at Pahalgam, expressed his condolences for the loss of lives, and reiterated Sierra Leone's solidarity with India,” noted the High Commission of India in Freetown via social media.

The delegation engaged with prominent figures in Sierra Leone, including the Speaker of Parliament, Members of Parliament, the Deputy Minister of Defence, the National Security Coordinator, and the Acting Foreign Minister, stressing India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.

“Deputy Defence Minister Muana Brima Massaquoi and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Daniel Brima Koroma condemned terrorism and expressed strong backing for India’s position. Minister Massaquoi underscored the pressing need for African nations to unite against terrorism, warning that inaction could bring the threat closer to home,” stated the High Commission.

Delegates also communicated with the media, sharing insights from constructive discussions on counter-terrorism with key Sierra Leonean officials.

Earlier, they interacted with foreign diplomats in Sierra Leone to rally international efforts against terrorism and to counteract the strategies of those who perpetrate, support, and fund cross-border terror actions against India.

The delegation included Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, Sasmit Patra, E.T. Mohammed Basheer, S.S. Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy.

In a local TV interview, Sasmit Patra sharply criticized Pakistan for using terrorism as a state tool, asserting, “The necessity for Pakistan to forsake terror tactics in favor of peace resonates with countless Sierra Leoneans,” as reported by the High Commission of India.

Moreover, as a demonstration of the robust relations between both nations, the Parliament of Sierra Leone held a moment of silence on Thursday to honor the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Indian delegation expressed gratitude to the Speaker and Members of Parliament for their show of friendship and solidarity in combating terrorism.

This visit is part of India's broader diplomatic outreach to emphasize the significance of Operation Sindoor and India’s ongoing battle against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism.

The objective was to secure international backing and raise awareness concerning the critical threat posed by terrorism.