French Delegation in India Expresses Full Support for Operation Sindoor

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Operation Sindoor, which conducted carefully controlled military strikes against terrorist camps in both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in May 2025, was a landmark event of widespread international notice. Among the many global responses to the action, the French delegation in India publicly expressed their total support for the decisive action taken by India. It showed solidarity in India’s position against cross-border terrorism. This article discusses the context, the reactions, and the significance of France’s support, with input from Indian Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor.

Operation Sindoor and International Reactions

Operation Sindoor was launched as a consequence of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, where 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed. The Indian military executed the operation for 26 minutes and attacked nine terrorist camps, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters in Muridke and the Jaish-e-Mohammed base in Bahawalpur would be a major apprehension.

The operation received support from several nations, including primary support from the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and overwhelmingly from France. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the Pahalgam attack was addressed. France recognized that India had a right to self-defense as the recent attack was unicity just awful and had denounced those attacks and would work with and finally emerging from COVID France had been an early and solid believer that after all they had been through, they would “never show props” and would work with India to confront terrorism wherever it arose.

Shashi Tharoor’s Role and France’s Support

Shashi Tharoor, a senior Congress leader and former diplomat, was a key player in India’s diplomatic efforts in the wake of Operation Sindoor. He was given the responsibility of heading one of the seven all-party delegations to brief 25 strategically selected nations on India’s position on terrorism.

Tharoor’s long-standing connection with France is significant. In February 2024, he was awarded the “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honour), France’s highest civil honor, for his initiatives to strengthen Indo-French relations and commitment towards global peace. This award reflects the mutual admiration and collaboration between Tharoor and French authorities, likely to impact France’s supportive action regarding Operation Sindoor.

Tharoor’s participation in the delegation was controversial among the Indian political community. The Congress party was especailly unhappy, claiming the government merely disregarded its suggestion of committee members and chose Tharoor, with no party mandate. Though disagreements existed within the delegation, Tharoor demanded a united national front to the world while emphasizing the “mission wasn’t a thing of party politics.”

France’s support for Operation Sindoor has several implications:

Bilateral Relations: The endorsement by France strengthens the strategic relationship between India and France, especially in defense and counterterrorism cooperation.

International Legitimacy: now that a heavyweight, European state supports India’s actions and narrative, it now has greater credibility as well as a narrative in comparison to many other countries.

International Pressure: There is also the possibility that showing India has some degree of international support may place pressure on Pakistan to address issues of terrorist activity arising from its geo-political territory.

Looking at Operation Sindoor concerning earlier Indian military reactions, such as the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, the pattern of India using a more proactive approach, where it was a proactive response to cross-border terrorism, is evident. The difference with Operation Sindoor is the level of diplomatic outreach and engagement and the inclusion of all-party delegations. The Indian Government attempted to portray a united national position on the international stage.

Conclusion

This striking public support for Operation Sindoor from France illustrates the changing landscape of international relationships in the domain of counter- terrorism. Shashi Tharoor’s diplomatic engagement, along with his existing professional relationships with French officials, was critical to this partnership developing in the first place.

While domestic political conditions differ, the integrated global messaging highlights India’s preferred approach to working against terrorism and its ongoing improvements in its position within the international system.

As geopolitical circumstances and environments continue to alter, the partnership between India and France to work proactively to address counter-terrorism initiatives may provide an exemplar of cooperation and partnerships with the intent to build or enhance regional and international security.

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