India’s Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, emphasised that an all-party parliamentary delegation’s recent visit to Japan served as a powerful platform to reinforce India’s firm stance on terrorism. George said that Members of Parliament from various political parties came together to send a unified message of "zero tolerance to terrorism" following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation, led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, visited Japan from May 22 to 24 to engage with Japanese leaders, policymakers, and diplomats. During their meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and other officials, the MPs reiterated India’s resolve to go to any extent to eliminate terrorism infrastructure.
“This visit helped convey our unity, strength, and determination. Members from different political parties spoke with one voice. The message was loud and clear to our Japanese friends, the diplomatic community, and the media,” said George.
The envoy noted that Japan was among the first countries to condemn the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people lost their lives and several others were injured. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express condolences and show solidarity.
Ambassador George highlighted India’s identity as a land of peace, deeply rooted in the teachings of Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. He pointed to the symbolic installation of Gandhi’s statue at Hiroshima National Peace Park during PM Modi’s visit as a testament to India’s commitment to nonviolence. He stressed that peace had returned to Jammu and Kashmir before the attack, with normalcy restored, tourism flourishing, and educational institutions functioning. “The enemy attacked to derail progress and harmony, but India is united in its response,” he said.
The delegation’s participation in the Raisina Dialogue Japan chapter also focused heavily on counter-terrorism. “Our MPs engaged at every level—visiting the Foreign Office, the Japanese parliament, and interacting with resident ambassadors. It was a demonstration of how India’s diversity comes together against terrorism,” George remarked.
In addition to Japan, the delegation is scheduled to visit Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore, aiming to brief international partners on India’s response to terrorism, including the recently launched Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Also Read: MPs set off for Op Sindoor outreach to Japan, Southeast Asia, UAE
Discussing the broader India-Japan relationship, Ambassador George described the bilateral ties as “a special strategic and global partnership,” underscoring civilisational, cultural, political, and economic links. “There is no history of conflict—only friendship,” he said, citing increased people-to-people contact, growing business ties, and cooperation in defence and security.
George expressed a vision for expanding the Indian presence in Japan, including a target to bring 50,000 more Indian professionals to Japan in the next five years and encouraging more academic exchanges. “We want more Indian students in Japan and more Japanese students in India,” he said. On Indo-Pacific cooperation, George highlighted India’s active role in the Quad alliance, alongside Japan, the US, and Australia. “India brings credibility to forums like the Quad, G20, and BRICS. We bring solutions, not problems,” he said, reaffirming India’s support for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
George also stressed India-Japan technological cooperation, particularly in semiconductors. He noted that both countries are investing heavily in this sector, referencing visits to facilities such as Rapidus in Hokkaido and Tokyo Electron in Yamanashi. “There’s a complementary relationship in semiconductor development. No day in my life in Tokyo goes by without working on it,” he said.
On education, George outlined significant collaborations between Indian and Japanese universities, including joint programs with IIT Mumbai and IIT Hyderabad. “Last year, we celebrated Diwali in 140 Japanese universities. That’s the depth of engagement we’ve achieved,” he added.
Summing up, the Indian envoy called Japan a “reliable partner” in India’s economic and strategic growth, while underlining that the all-party delegation’s visit had sent a resolute message to the world—India is united, determined, and committed in its fight against terrorism.
Also Read: All-party delegation briefs UAE on Op Sindoor, anti-terror stand
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