The UAE reaffirmed strong support for India’s fight against terrorism during a high-level Indian delegation visit, highlighting shared security goals and condemning cross-border terrorism after the Pahalgam attack.
In a powerful show of solidarity, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reaffirmed its commitment to support India in its fight against terrorism, following the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. This assurance came during the visit of a high-level Indian all-party parliamentary delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde, who met senior Emirati leaders and officials in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The visit marks the UAE as the first stop in India’s four-nation diplomatic outreach to brief international partners on the significance of Operation Sindoor—India’s calibrated response to the April 22 terror attack targeting tourists in Pahalgam—and to expose the cross-border roots of terrorism affecting South Asia.
The Indian delegation, which includes MPs Bansuri Swaraj, ET Mohd Basheer, Atul Garg, Sasmit Patra, Manan Kumar Mishra, Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy, held substantive discussions with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE’s Minister of Tolerance and Co-Existence, and Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council.
In their meetings, the Emirati leaders expressed deep condolences for the victims of the Pahalgam attack and emphasised that the UAE stands firmly with India in its fight against terror. “India and the UAE will tackle terrorism together. The UAE will always stand by India,” stated Sheikh Nahyan. Echoing this sentiment, Al Nuaimi declared, “Terrorism is against the whole of humanity… We are in agreement that it is a global threat, and the international community must act now.”
Al Nuaimi stressed that the India-UAE relationship extends far beyond trade and culture, encompassing vital strategic and security cooperation. He lauded the delegation’s diplomatic mission, adding, “We face the same challenges and share the same opportunities. We are in the same boat.”
The visit also included a detailed presentation of India’s fight against terrorism to Emirati media and officials, especially concerning the disinformation campaigns allegedly emanating from Pakistan. Delegation leader Shrikant Shinde gave an interview to UAE’s leading English daily The National, outlining the evolution of India’s counterterrorism strategy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the implications of Operation Sindoor.
The delegation also met with Jamal Al Kaabi, Director General of the UAE’s National Media Office, to counter misinformation and reinforce factual narratives around India’s internal security challenges.
In an emotionally resonant address to the Indian diaspora in the UAE, Shinde thanked the Emirati leadership for their prompt and unequivocal condemnation of the Pahalgam attack. “UAE was the first country to condemn the attack. In testing times, real friends stand up—and the UAE has proven to be one,” he said. The event took place at the Indian Embassy, where the delegation also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
Other MPs struck a similarly assertive tone. BJD’s Sasmit Patra remarked, “This is the new India where we will not allow political divisions to interfere with national security. Operation Sindoor is the beginning of a new normal. We are speaking with one voice: India.” BJP leader Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia reiterated, “Blood and water will not flow together—dialogue cannot coexist with terror.”
The UAE had earlier issued a strong statement condemning the April 22 attack. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan conveyed their condolences to Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in personal phone calls, underscoring the gravity with which Abu Dhabi views terrorism targeting civilians.
As part of the ongoing diplomatic mission, the Indian delegation is set to engage with UAE-based think tanks and strategic experts in closed-door sessions on Friday. These dialogues aim to deepen Indo-UAE cooperation on counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and regional peace.
The UAE visit, while only the first leg of the broader diplomatic effort, has already reinforced the growing strategic depth of the India-UAE relationship. By addressing both leadership and the public, the Indian delegation has successfully amplified India’s anti-terror narrative on the global stage—showcasing resolve, unity, and international engagement in the face of violence.
