Lome [Togo], May 28 (ANI): Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, who is leading an all-party delegation which is visiting key capitals as part of the Modi government's big diplomatic outreach, said on Wednesday that they are 'going to different countries to give the message of peace, of zero tolerance' against terrorism.

Shinde also stated that the visit provided them with an opportunity to know the history of these countries and how it shaped their experience.

'This has been a terrific experience. I consider myself very fortunate that at a young age, I got to lead this delegation of senior MPs and senior diplomats, who are members of this delegation, and that our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) chose me for this. We visited the UAE and Congo; we are in Togo here on transit. From here, we will head to Sierra Leone and then to Liberia. We are going to different countries to give the message of our country, of peace, of zero tolerance against terrorism. But when we reach these countries, we get an opportunity to learn the history of those countries and their people. We are all getting a good experience here,' Shinde told ANI.

He also termed the role of leading the delegation as a huge responsibility. He said the host countries are keen to understand the Indian story and how it has been fighting terrorism.

He added, 'I think this is big that such a huge responsibility has been assigned to all of us by PM Narendra Modi, he placed his trust in us. Wherever we go, we are warmly received by the dignitaries. They are trying to understand what we have to say. They are giving all their time to that so that the Indian story, how it has been fighting terrorism all these years, they are trying to understand all of this. We, too, are getting to learn a lot through these visits. I think these experiences will be very important for our political life...'

After concluding their visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Group 4 delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, en route to Sierra Leone, stopped over in Lome, Togo, for transit. During the stop, they held discussions on Pakistan-based terrorism and Operation Sindoor at the airport lounge. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, a part of the delegation, called on the world to unite in this global war against terrorism and reiterated India's resolve to stand firm against the terrorist proxies of Pakistan.

'This diplomatic mission is not merely a tour. It's a declaration, it's a declaration - a declaration that India has brought its stance globally, the time for selective outrage against terrorism is over. The world needs to stand united in this global war against terrorism. India is going to isolate terror perpetrators and state-sponsored terrorist states, and those countries diplomatically. It will confront them strategically, and it will ensure that the world stands united. On one hand, when you have countries like Pakistan where terrorist proxies are considered as assets, India stands firm, unafraid, unflinching against them,' the BJP MP told ANI.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists, in which 26 people were brutally killed. The Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Shinde, is touring key African nations to strengthen India's strategic and diplomatic relations and to build global consensus against terrorism.

Earlier, on Monday, the all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde visited the Senate and the National Assembly of Congo, interacting with several leaders from the country.

The all-party delegation met with Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Democratic Republic of Congo and also met with the President of the Senate of Congo, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde. Additionally, the delegation met the President of the National Assembly, Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyiginyi Nkingi.

The multiparty delegation led by Shrikant Shinde comprises Bansuri Swaraj, ET Mohammed Basheer, Atul Garg, Sasmit Patra, Manan Kumar Mishra, SS Ahluwalia and Sujan Chinoy. (ANI)