Jakarta (Indonesia): During an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Jakarta on Friday, an all-party parliamentary delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha reiterated India’s assertive stance on cross-border terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. Jha underscored India’s evolving security doctrine, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message that India will not hesitate to retaliate strongly if provoked.
“The new India will not merely share intelligence or data. If the nation is attacked, India ab andar ghus ke marega (India will strike within enemy territory). Prime Minister Modi has made it very clear—this is the new normal. Our country is progressing, and there is peace,” Jha stated.
He further emphasized that recent attempts by terrorists to incite communal tension in India had failed due to the country’s resilience and social maturity. “Terrorists tried to divide us by targeting a particular community, but they failed. India responded with unity and composure. Not even a minor communal incident broke out,” he noted.
Jha made it clear that the issue with Pakistan is far from over. “Some believe the conflict is behind us, but it is not. India has categorically stated that any hostile action from Pakistan will be treated as an act of war. All 1.4 billion Indians stand united,” he said.
Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack, Jha revealed that the Indian response was swift and decisive. “The Pahalgam attack shook the global community. We expected Pakistan to act, but it didn’t. So on May 7, India destroyed nine of their terror camps. When Pakistan retaliated by attacking civilians in Poonch on May 9, India responded by targeting the Noor Khan Air Base and other installations. It was only then that their DGMO contacted ours, requesting a ceasefire—which we agreed to,” he explained.
Congress leader Salman Khurshid, also part of the delegation, clarified that India harbors no territorial ambitions but is focused on its future and international responsibilities. “We are not interested in grabbing their land. Our eyes are set on the future. Claims that we initiated contact are baseless. It was Pakistan’s DGMO who reached out. We exercised restraint. We are not Pakistan—we are much bigger, and we have a larger role to play globally,” Khurshid said.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee emphasized that future dialogue with Pakistan must focus on reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). “Any future engagement with Pakistan should revolve around PoK. Terrorism and dialogue cannot go hand in hand. We’ve been talking to Pakistan for over 50 years, but this time the approach must be different,” he stated.
Banerjee also pointed out that India’s fight against terrorism is not in isolation. “India is not alone in this battle. Our global diaspora stands with us. Cross-border terrorism is no longer just India’s concern—it has become a global issue. There is ample public evidence that Pakistan continues to support terrorism,” he said.
The high-level delegation is visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. It is led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha and includes leaders from various political parties: Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), Abhishek Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), Brij Lal (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Kumar.
