MP Yusuf Pathan Steps Back from Government’s Global Anti-Terror Drive, Opts Out of Delegation

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan will not be participating in the Centre’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ foreign outreach initiative, despite being officially named as a member of one of the all-party delegations. According to sources, Pathan’s inclusion in the delegation was done without prior consultation with his party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

While the government reportedly contacted Pathan directly, he later communicated that he would not be available to travel as part of the diplomatic outreach. Sources within the TMC told India Today that the party took the decision based on its principle that foreign policy is exclusively the Centre’s domain, and hence, the central government should take complete responsibility for such international engagements.

The delegation Pathan was assigned to is headed by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha and is scheduled to visit countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The team comprises a mix of leaders from various political backgrounds — BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, and Hemang Joshi; CPI(M)’s John Brittas; Congress leader Salman Khurshid; and former journalist Mohan Kumar.

In total, the government announced the participation of 51 political figures — MPs and ex-ministers from across party lines — as part of seven delegations meant to visit several global capitals. The aim of this outreach is to communicate India’s firm stance against terrorism and to provide context to the recent counter-terror operation dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Another TMC leader, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, had also been invited to take part in the initiative but reportedly declined due to health concerns.