India, Not Pakistan, Finds Favour in Islamic Capitals: BJP's Baijayant Panda On Diplomatic Shift

BJP MP Baijayant Panda has returned to India after leading an all-party delegation to four-nation—Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Algeria, and Kuwait.

The delegation was sent by the government to convey India's resolute stance against cross-border terror emanating from Pakistan and to inform the countries about India's counter-terror Operation Sindoor.

In a diplomatic win for India, these nations, once seen as Pakistan’s traditional allies in the Islamic world, now appear to be recharting their course.

“These countries are literally in Pakistan’s backyard,” Panda noted, but what stood out was the recall of civilisational links, pre-oil era trade, and admiration for India’s policy of non-aggression.

As per a report by Indian Express, the delegation found that India’s economic rise, strategic clarity, and Prime Minister Modi’s personal outreach had tilted perceptions.

"These countries are literally in Pakistan’s backyard and being Islamic nations, Pakistan has cultivated them over decades. However, two things go in the other direction," Panda said in an interview with The Indian Express.

"One, these nations have had historical and civilisational ties with India, which they truly value … When we spoke of India not having invaded other countries, they were already aware. They talk with pride about how their grandfathers were dependent on India in the pre-oil era and spoke about how they used Indian currency till the 1960s," he added.

"Third is India’s renewed trajectory as one of the global economic engines. Lastly, over the last few years, not only trade and investments but even military cooperation with these countries has gone up," he added.

"Moreover, these countries understand Pakistan very well and have been on the receiving end of terrorism. So, it was a bit surprising for us that we found ourselves on the same page as them even before we put our points across," the BJP MP said.

Panda shared that even contentious topics like Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty drew little resistance.

Instead, leaders acknowledged Pakistan’s double game—sponsoring terror while pleading innocence.

“India is an opportunity and Pakistan is the problem child,” he said, asserting that the world increasingly sees them in separate orbits.

Despite domestic criticism, particularly from a few Congress voices, Panda dismissed it as political noise.

“This narrative is being driven by just three or four frustrated individuals,” he claimed, adding that abroad, unity and credibility defined the Indian delegation’s image.