Embassy Of India Riga, Latvia

EMBASSY OF INDIA, RIGA

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PRESS RELEASE 04 

United in the Fight Against Terrorism

All Party Delegation visit to Latvia

31 May 2025

The All-Party delegation led by Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Ms. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), including Members of Parliament Mr. Rajeev Rai (SP), Capt. Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Mr. Prem Chand Gupta (RJD), Mr. Ashok Kumar Mittal (AAP) and former Ambassador Manjeev S. Puri, concluded a highly productive visit to Latvia on 31 May 2025. During the main day of engagements on 30 May, the delegation carried out meetings in the Saeima – Latvia’s Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the members of Latvian think tanks, academia, and media.

2. The delegation held comprehensive discussions with H.E. Ms. In?ra M?rniece, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Saeima, H.E. Ms. Ingr?da Circene, chairperson of the group of Saeima members for promoting parliamentary cooperation with India, members of these two committees, and senior officers of Saeima. The participants from Latvian side also included representative to the Baltic Assembly. Indian side drew attention towards the menace the state-sponsored cross-border terrorism from Pakistan has been causing in India, posing constant threat to the national security and lives of innocent people. Delegation transparently shared the facts that led to the launch of Operation Sindoor in response to the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack. They explained that Operation Sindoor is now a new approach and new doctrine to deal with the ongoing peril of Pak inflicted cross border terrorism. Dialogue between the two sides also dealt with enhancing legislative convergence in the global fight against terrorism, with closer and regular contacts between the parliamentarians.

3. The delegation also met with Mr. Andzejs Vilumsons, the State Secretary, and Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics, Special Envoy for Latvia’s UNSC Candidacy 2026-2027 and Director of International organizations and Human Rights Department, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Indian delegation underlined the imperative of collective action against terrorism, including the need for credible international mechanisms to deny safe havens, financing, and political justification to terrorist entities. Reiterating India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, the delegation projected India’s united stand and stressed that India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. It underlined Operation Sindoor is India’s new security doctrine, which identifies cross-border terrorism as an active threat to India’s security, and that every act of terrorism will be responded to.

4. Continuing with their messaging to the key policymakers, leaders and interlocutors of Latvia, the all-Party delegation also undertook interactions with members of think tanks, and academia in Latvia. These interactions focused on the risks posed by complicity of State actors in cross-border terrorism, especially when coupled with disinformation campaigns aimed at obscuring ground realities and misleading the masses. Drawing from shared regional experiences, both sides discussed developing the framework for cooperation in counter-terrorism research and developing strategic foresight and new ways of crisis response mechanisms. Need for greater academic engagement between Indian and Latvian institutions was also discussed.

5. As part of the visit, the delegation also paid visit to the National Library of Latvia in Riga and paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi’s bust installed in this prestigious library.

6. Main engagement day concluded with a special event – “Sindoor Samman”, organized by the Indian diaspora in Latvia in the honour of the all-Party delegation. Head of the delegation, MP Ms. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi addressed the gathering. Delegation members interacted with the community members and appreciated the role of Indian diaspora for their contributions both in the home and host countries, as also in amplifying the message of India’s unity and united stand on countering cross-border terrorism. About two hundred members of Indian diaspora and friends of India participated in the event echoing the spirit of “Operation Sindoor.”

7. Overall, the outcome of the visit was highly productive and positive. Visit of the all-party delegation carrying message of national consensus and united stand on zero-tolerance for terrorism and India’s new security doctrine, was highly appreciated by Latvia. The all-Party delegation put forth India’s position and elaborated on India’s new security doctrine as enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Latvian side strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and expressed condolences for the victims of the attack.

8. This was the first high-level visit from India to Latvia since the opening of India’s resident Mission in Riga in July 2024, which carried a special significance for Latvia. Latvia welcomed opening of the Mission in Riga and expressed interest in fostering closer relations with India as a significant player in the Indo Pacific region. They expressed special gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visit to Ukraine last September. India and Latvia share strong and friendly relations. Visit of all-Party delegation has set path for furthering bilateral relations at all levels, particularly in countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as for exchanges and cooperation between the two sides at the level of the parliamentarians.

Riga

31 May 2025