NEW DELHI / SEOUL, May 21: At the 2025 Asian Leadership Conference in South Korea, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha declared that Operation Sindoor was not merely a military response, but a clear diplomatic message: India will not tolerate terrorism.
“We do not seek conflict,” he said, “but we will never shy away from defending our people.”
Addressing over 2,500 delegates and 320 leaders at what is often dubbed the “Davos of the East,” Chadha called for a coordinated international response to terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
“It is time to forge a Global Alliance Against Terror,” he said. “India believes terrorism anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere.”
Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives in Jammu and Kashmir, Chadha said that India had responded not just with words, but with decisive action.
“India has undergone a paradigm shift in its counter-terror strategy. Operation Sindoor proved that we can strike deep, dismantle terror infrastructure, and do so with precision,” he stated.
According to Chadha, “Zero tolerance is now India’s national doctrine.” The cross-border operation, he said, marked a shift from reactive posturing to a preemptive, assertive approach in dealing with terror networks.
“The Indian armed forces carried out targeted strikes on terror camps, sending a loud and clear message: if you harm our people, we will dismantle your safe havens—wherever they are.”
The Rajya Sabha MP drew a parallel between India’s commitment to peace and its readiness to act in self-defense.
“We are the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who taught peace and non-violence. But we are also the land of Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose, who shook colonial empires. Our legacy is one of both peace and courage.”
Sharing a video of his address on X, Chadha wrote: “At the global stage, I urged world leaders to come together to confront Pakistan-sponsored terror. India is no longer the nation that absorbs attacks—we strike back, and we strike deep.”
Chadha’s remarks were part of a broader keynote at the ALC, where he was invited as one of the youngest and most prominent political voices from Asia. At 33, he is the youngest Rajya Sabha MP in India’s history and was recently named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
The ALC 2025 theme, “The Rise of Nations: Pathways to Great Prosperity,” marked a historic year as South Korea commemorated its 80th year of liberation and 75 years since the Korean War. Chadha joined a distinguished roster that included former leaders like Rishi Sunak, Mike Pompeo, and Tony Abbott, alongside CEOs, policymakers, and academics.
In addition to his keynote on anti-terror strategy, Chadha also spoke on “Young Leaders Reshaping Governance in Asia” and “Crisis-Proofing Nations” — drawing from his work in Delhi on public health infrastructure and clean water access.
Chadha concluded his ALC address with a firm appeal: “The message from India is unambiguous. We are a peaceful nation. But we will not permit the use of terror as a tool of foreign policy. That era is over.”
