India’s Operation Sindoor delegation forced to circle Moscow Airport for hours due to drone attack

The third high-level, all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi arrived in Moscow and highlight India’s strong resolve in the fighting terrorism in all its forms, the Indian Embassy in Moscow said on Friday. 

However, as per reports, a drone attack near the airport forced their aircraft to circle around the airport for hours. The delegation, however, ultimately landed at the airport and were greeted by India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar.

More details on this are awaited.

“All-Party Delegation led by Member of Parliament Kanimozhi Karunanidhi @KanimozhiDMK arrives in Moscow to convey India's strong resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms,” a statement by the Indian Embassy in Moscow said on Friday morning in a post on X.

“Glimpses from All Party delegation led by Member of Parliament Kanimozhi Karunanidhi @KanimozhiDMK arriving in Moscow. United against Terrorism!”

This is the third delegation sent by the Indian government, as part of the global outreach programme on Operation Sindoor, exposing Pakistan and the terror groups emanating from its soil.

"On arrival at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport the Members of Parliament Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Rajeev Rai, Captain Brijesh Chowta, Prem Chand Gupta, Ashok Kumar Mittal, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, welcomed by Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation H.E. Vinay Kumar," the statement by the Indian Embassy in Moscow said on Friday morning in a post on X.

It further added, "A busy schedule of meetings and interactions awaits them in Moscow on May 23-24, 2025."

During the course of their stay in Moscow, the delegation will be interacting with senior dignitaries from the Federation Council (Upper House) and the State Duma (Lower House) of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other key interlocutors in think tanks and media, according to the embassy.

The embassy shared that the delegation which is being led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, comprises of Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai, BJP MP Captain Brijesh Chowta (Retd.); RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, and former Ambassador of India to the EU, Belgium, Luxembourg and Nepal; Former Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri.

The all-party delegation will project India’s national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country’s strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism.

India had launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

India launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases.

The two countries have reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan’s DGMO to his Indian counterpart.

Earlier, two groups of high-level, multi-party delegations left for Japan and the United Arab Emirates as part of a five-nation tour.

The initiative aims to build international consensus against terrorism and isolate Pakistan, along with the terror-backed groups emanating from its soil that perpetuate and support terrorism.

India’s Operation Sindoor Outreach seeks to highlight Pakistan’s role in fostering cross-border terrorism, with a total of seven delegations, comprising 59 Members of Parliament, former ministers, and diplomats, visiting 33 countries between May 21 and June 5.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)