AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, part of a multi-party parliamentary delegation that toured four Gulf and North African nations, commended the group’s efforts in showcasing India’s strong position against Pakistan-backed terrorism. He particularly praised BJP MP Baijayant Panda, the delegation’s leader, for expressing India’s stance with clarity and vigour during the meetings.
In an interview with PTI, Owaisi shared that the delegation travelled to Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Bahrain, and Kuwait, where they addressed Pakistan’s involvement in fostering terrorism, referencing events like the recent attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The assault, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, was one of several incidents presented to leaders in the host countries.
“We presented India’s case convincingly, providing evidence such as the email claiming responsibility for the Pahalgam attack that originated in Pakistan. Every member of the delegation fulfilled their responsibilities,” Owaisi stated.
He mentioned that the delegation encouraged these nations to support the re-inclusion of Pakistan in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, stressing the importance of international collaboration in combating terrorism.
Emphasising the shared history of suffering caused by terrorism, Owaisi noted that several countries visited by the delegation had also been targets of terrorist attacks in the past, such as Saudi Arabia’s 2003 Riyadh bombing, which was carried out by Al-Qaeda.
“We clarified that India remains a target for groups with extremist ideologies—such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed—whose beliefs justify aggression against innocent people. Today, Pakistan has emerged as the centre of Takfirism,” he said.
Owaisi reiterated AIMIM’s call for an in-depth debate in Parliament regarding the Pahalgam terror attack during the forthcoming Monsoon Session. He stressed that the government must be held accountable for the security failure and policy deficiencies.
“We require a clear understanding of our deterrence approach and the actions necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future. The government cannot evade discussion by citing sensitivity. Parliamentary rules permit private discussions in such situations, and this must take place,” he stated.
In response to Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach following India’s Operation Sindoor, Owaisi criticised Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto, highlighting the irony that his mother, Benazir Bhutto—a victim of terrorism—had never received justice. “Even after losing his mother in a terrorist attack, he defends a country that shelters terrorists. This is double standards,” he said.
He further pointed out that terror attacks like the 26/11 Mumbai assault and the recent Pahalgam incident claimed lives from all communities, including Muslims, and that Pakistan’s continued support for such groups threatens global peace.
“They do not embody Islam. If they did, they wouldn’t protect organisations that murder innocent people,” he remarked.
Owaisi also commented on the stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, calling the tragedy heart-wrenching and stating that improved crowd control measures were necessary to prevent such incidents.