Madrid — Spain has pledged firm support for India’s campaign against terrorism during a high-level meeting in Madrid this week, as Indian lawmakers push to rally international backing following a recent spike in militant attacks.
A six-member Indian parliamentary delegation, led by MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi of the DMK, met Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares at the historic Palacio de Viana on Monday. The two sides held detailed discussions on counter-terrorism, regional stability, and the role of global cooperation in confronting extremist threats.
“Terrorism will never prevail, and Spain stands with India on this matter,” Albares said after the meeting. He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to international peace and joint efforts to combat terror groups.
The Indian delegation, representing multiple parties, shared updates on India’s ongoing struggle with cross-border terrorism, particularly from Pakistan-backed groups. In recent years, India has increasingly turned to diplomatic channels to build global consensus on what it calls a long-standing and under-recognised threat.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Indian Embassy in Madrid confirmed the meeting. “The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to apprise him of India’s position and discuss efforts in the fight against terrorism,” it read.
Earlier in the day, the group met with members of the Association of Victims of Terrorism, one of the world’s largest support networks for terror survivors. The association, based in Madrid, represents more than 4,000 victims and their families.
The meeting offered what one delegate called a “shared moment of grief and strength.” Indian MPs spoke of the country’s efforts in victim rehabilitation and how decades of insurgency have shaped India’s counter-terrorism protocols.
“There’s a lot we can learn from each other when it comes to healing and resilience,” one official said.
At a media briefing later, Kanimozhi addressed what she described as the “naïve optimism” held by some global observers about India-Pakistan relations. “The Government of India has reached out to friendly nations,” she said, “but many still think such deep-rooted conflict can be resolved over a coffee. It’s much more complex than that.”
Her remarks follow a deadly terror attack on 22 April in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed by militants allegedly backed by Pakistan. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, targeting terror camps across the Line of Control.
Indian authorities said over 100 militants were killed in the strikes. The groups named Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen have long been on India’s radar.
Though the operation drew criticism from some quarters for escalating tensions in the region, Indian officials have framed it as a necessary and calculated response. “When lives are lost, the state must act. This was about dismantling infrastructure that breeds violence,” one security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The outreach in Madrid forms part of India’s broader diplomatic campaign to shore up support among key allies in Europe and beyond. It also highlights India’s attempt to reshape the global narrative on terrorism one that, for decades, it has argued has focused too narrowly on the West.
The Spanish government, which has faced its own share of terror threats, including the 2004 Madrid train bombings, appears sympathetic. Analysts say the shared history of loss has opened new ground for closer cooperation between the two nations.
As the delegation wraps up its visit, attention now shifts to upcoming meetings with EU policymakers. For New Delhi, the message remains clear: terrorism is a global scourge, and silence, it says, is no longer an option.
