By Emmanuel Sikena
Monrovia, Liberia – A high-level, All-Party delegation from India arrived in Monrovia, Liberia on Saturday, May 31st, for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and providing clarity on India’s stance against terrorism. The delegation, a part of the Government of India’s diplomatic outreach, comprises Members of Parliament from both houses, senior political figures, and former diplomats.
The delegation is led by Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Shiv Sena. Other prominent members include Ms. Bansuri Swaraj and Mr. Atul Garg, both Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP); Mr. ET Mohammed Basheer, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML); Dr. Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD); Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); Mr. S. S. Ahluwalia, Former Member of Parliament and Former Minister of State (BJP); and Ambassador Sujan Chinoy, Former Ambassador to Japan and Mexico.
The delegation was warmly received at the airport by Mr. Manoj Bihari Verma, Ambassador of India to Liberia, along with Hon. Sekou S. Kanneh, Representative from District #2, Montserrado County and Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Hon. Prince A Toles, Representative from District #8, Montserrado, of the House of Representatives of Liberia.
During their visit, the delegation is scheduled to meet with top Liberian government officials, including President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and the leadership of both houses of the legislature.
A key focus of the visit will be to share with Liberian officials and stakeholders India’s perspective on the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam, Kashmir, and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. The Indian Embassy near Monrovia released a statement late Saturday evening highlighting the delegation’s mission to provide insight and clarity on Operation Sindoor, emphasizing India’s firm stance against terrorism.
The 2025 Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, predominantly Hindu tourists, on April 22nd, prompted a robust response from India. In retaliation, Operation Sindoor, a precise military operation conducted on May 7th, targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, aimed at disrupting networks associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, the groups believed to be behind the Pahalgam attack.
The delegation aims to convey India’s unwavering message of zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They will engage in discussions with Hon’ble President of Liberia, Hon’ble Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, Hon’ble Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as leading think tanks and representatives of the media.
Mr. Rohit Suji, a Liberian-born Indian national and chair of the Indo-West Africa Business Forum, welcomed the visit, underscoring the potential for strengthened partnerships between India and West Africa across various sectors through enhanced people-to-people connections. Mr. Suji advocated for increased exchanges between political and business leaders from India and West Africa to foster further development and collaboration.
