‘Together in fight against terrorism’: All-party MP delegation briefs Bahrain on cross-border terror, seeks support after Pahalgam attack

NEW DELHI: All-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda met Bahrain's Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa on Sunday, raising concerns about cross-border terrorism and India’s strong resolve to combat it.

The meeting, held at the Gudaibiya Palace in Manama, is part of India’s larger effort to engage the international community on its security concerns following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

As per news agency PTI, Panda told Bahrain's leadership, “We are here at a difficult time… The difficulty has to do with the latest terror attack in Pahalgam and the hostilities with Pakistan thereafter.”


He described the brutal incident in which “26 men were killed at short range in front of their wives after verifying their religion,” and added that India holds one neighbour responsible for orchestrating such attacks.

During the meeting, Panda posted on X, “India & Bahrain share a deep, historic friendship built on trust, shared values & mutual respect… Together in the fight against terrorism, we discussed matters of mutual interest & India's firm commitment to combat terror in all its forms.”

The Indian Embassy in Bahrain said the sides “discussed a number of issues of mutual interest, and emphasised India's commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms.”


The multi-party team also met with Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, chairman of Bahrain’s Shura Council, where they reaffirmed India’s determination to confront terrorism and further strengthen bilateral ties, as stated in an official X post by the embassy.

The delegation includes several political figures across party lines, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Rekha Sharma, Phangnon Konyak, and Satnam Singh Sandhu, as well as former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and ex-diplomat Harsh Shringla.

Addressing Bahrain’s leadership and civil society, Owaisi said, “There is no difference between terrorists in Pakistan and ISIS takfiri ideology,” and added that these killings of innocent civilians in India are being justified by extremists. “Our government has sent us here… so that the world knows of the threat that India has been facing,” he said.

The delegation also visited Bab Al Bahrain, a prominent cultural landmark, which Panda called a “symbol of Bahrain's rich heritage and enduring ties with India.” They offered floral tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at India House in Manama.

The visit to Bahrain is part of a wider initiative involving seven Indian delegations tasked with visiting 33 countries.

The aim is to present India’s position post-Pahalgam, highlight its response, Operation Sindoor launched on May 7 targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and counter misinformation abroad.

The delegation will head to Kuwait next on May 26 as part of the continuing outreach.