Abu Dhabi, 22 May 2025: A high-level all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, commenced its four-nation diplomatic outreach with a visit to the United Arab Emirates. The focus of the visit was to brief the UAE leadership and media on the implications of Operation Sindoor and to reinforce India’s strong stance against cross-border terrorism.
The UAE, among the first nations to condemn the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, reiterated its solidarity with India. UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan had earlier conveyed personal condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
During the visit, the Indian delegation held meetings with prominent Emirati leaders including H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Co-Existence. Sheikh Nahyan extended heartfelt condolences and declared, “India and UAE will tackle terrorism together. The UAE will always stand by India.”
In a key strategic dialogue, the delegation met with H.E. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior & Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council. The discussions centred on the precise, calibrated, and non-escalatory nature of India’s response through Operation Sindoor. Dr. Al Nuaimi emphasised, “The India-UAE relationship is beyond trade and culture; it includes shared security goals. Terrorism is a threat to all humanity, and the world must act.”
The delegation also engaged with Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Director General of the National Media Office, presenting evidence to counter misinformation and propaganda originating from Pakistan. The conversations stressed the need for factual narrative building to combat falsehoods targeting India.
Delegation leader Dr. Shrikant Shinde spoke to The National, UAE’s leading daily, outlining India’s long-standing struggle against cross-border terrorism and the strategic doctrine set by Prime Minister Modi through Operation Sindoor.
Concluding the day, the Indian representatives met with the Indian diaspora in the UAE. They acknowledged the community’s contributions and commended their resilience in upholding India’s pluralistic values despite external efforts to disturb harmony.
The visit by the Indian parliamentary delegation to the UAE not only reinforced bilateral ties but also showcased the growing strategic convergence between the two nations on matters of counter-terrorism and regional stability. With further dialogues scheduled with Emirati think tanks, India is advancing its diplomatic campaign to garner international support against cross-border terrorism and disinformation.
