'Muslim countries see Pakistan as problem child': Baijayant Panda on Indian delegation's visit to 4 OIC nations

BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda addresses the gathering during an interaction with representatives of the Indian community, in Bahrain. (PTI)

Gulf countries, Algeria and West Asia view India as an opportunity and Pakistan as exploitative,

said Bharatiya Janata Party MP Baijayant Panda, said upon his return to India after leading a multi-party delegation to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Algeria and Kuwait, all part of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Panda outrightly denied any hyphenation of India and Pakistan and said that the Muslim nations his delegation visited were very clear that India is an opportunity and Pakistan the problem child.

"At least in the Gulf countries, Algeria, and West Asia, they do not see India and Pakistan as hyphenated. They told us that India and Pakistan are in different orbits. Maybe some other countries have different interests, but these countries see Pakistan as exploitative, while they view India as an opportunity," Panda said in an interview to The Indian Express.

Panda said that a combination of the civilizational ties these nations shared with India, India's turnaround under Prime Minister Narednra Modi and his rapport with leaders of these countries and India’s renewed trajectory as one of the global economic engines all went in India's favour.

"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," Panda said.

Panda further said that the world now understands the Kashmir issue fairly well and also understands that many portrayals of India are incorrect. "If you look at minorities, they understand that their percentage in India has grown. Minorities in India are not looking to make a dash to the exit door, unlike in neighbouring countries where they have been decimated," he said.

Panda further pointed out that Pakistan has a set copybook of sending proxy terrorists across the border, execute an attack, and immediately claim innocence. They have done it in Mumbai, Pulwama, and others, and even when they do get caught and acknowledge it, they do not take any action.

"If India retaliates, they scream bloody murder and try to get the world involved. They also resort to nuclear blackmail, while we have made it clear that we do not want hostilities. In fact, Pakistan provokes hostilities with a terrorist attack, but we do not want escalations either. These are nuances which were discussed a lot. They were very cooperative as the countries have taken similar actions against terrorists," Panda said.

The MP also played down the OIC not taking a firm stand against Pakistan and said he viewed it as a good sign as the OIC has been completely one-sided in the past. Panda said that some of the member nations of the OIC are in the UN Security Council and a few others are a part of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

"Some nations have been party to proscribing terrorists and terror organisations that operate in Pakistan and some member nations have said the OIC must take up a path of deradicalising some of these countries," he said, adding that the trajectories of these nations and Pakistan have diverged over the last few decades.

"All these countries are reforming and are now very strictly against radicalisation, and do not allow jihadi elements to use their soil but Pakistan has taken a different direction. Pakistan has also taken funding from some of these countries and not used it for the right purpose," Panda added.

Panda also brushed aside internal political differences that were aired while the delegation was abroad and noted that they never featured in the discussions. He also refused to blame the Congress on the issue and said that several of its members were part of the delegation.

"It all boils down to the same three or four individuals. They are so frustrated that they stoop to the extent of taking a stand against India’s foreign policy in the garb of attacking the PM. It was not at all reflective of our engagement and experience in the four countries," Panda said.