If Pakistan doesn't cull terrorism, India reserves right to act: Op Sindoor delegation in South Africa

The all-party delegation in South Africa said that if Pakistan does not nip terrorism in the bud, then India reserves the right to adopt any option available to it to defend itself.

Congress MP Manish Tewari, who is part of the delegation led by NCP MP Supriya Sule, said, “If the terror infrastructure in Pakistan is not culled by the Government of Pakistan then India reserves the right to energise the full spectrum of options available to do it so.”

South Africa on Thursday expressed solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism following the Pahalgam attack of April 22. African National Congress leaders led by Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula “welcomed and appreciated the briefing by delegation and also expressed solidarity with India and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the India High Commission here said in a post on X.

The delegation meeting was attended by ANC National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka, ANC NEC member Andile Lungisa, ANC Youth League Secretary General Mntuwoxolo Ngudle, and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition Mzwandile Masina.

Apart from Manish Tewari, the all-party delegation comprises BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur and V Muraleedharan, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, TDP leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, AAP leader Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin.

Ending the two-day visit to the country on Thursday, Sule said, “India has always globally led for peace and the deep relationship, friendship we have had with South Africa - two sons (Gandhi, Mandela) of this global soil who have always talked about non-violence. So, we feel very close to South Africa.”

With inputs from agencies