In a heartfelt and determined message delivered in New York, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor made it clear that India is no longer willing to tolerate cross-border terrorism without consequences. Speaking to a gathering of Indian-Americans, members of the media, and think tank representatives, Tharoor reflected on the devastating April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 innocent civilians—among them a Nepalese citizen—were killed in one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in recent years.
Tharoor emphasized that a new norm has been set: those sitting in Pakistan who believe they can harm Indian citizens without facing consequences will be proven wrong. He said unequivocally that there will be a price to pay for such acts, and that price is steadily rising. Expressing sorrow over the lives lost, he spoke of a renewed sense of national determination. Operation Sindoor, he explained, was not provoked by India, but rather a necessary response to relentless acts of terror. “We didn’t want to start anything,” he said. “You started, we replied. If you stop, we stop. And they stopped.”
The senior Congress leader is leading a multi-party delegation to several countries—including Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the U.S.—to convey India’s firm stance against terrorism and to make clear that the recent conflict with Pakistan was triggered not by Operation Sindoor, but by the horrific Pahalgam attack. The delegation includes MPs from different political backgrounds, underscoring the bipartisan unity on the issue of national security.
Tharoor made it clear that India harbors no desire to engage in conflict with Pakistan. “We would much rather be left alone to grow our economy and lift our people into the 21st century,” he said. India, he explained, is focused on progress—on building a prosperous, technologically advanced society—while Pakistan continues to engage in revisionist tactics, coveting Indian territory and resorting to terrorism when conventional means fail.
He spoke about the years India has spent presenting evidence to the international community—through dossiers, diplomacy, and appeals to global institutions—all of which were met with denial and inaction from Pakistan. Terrorists remain unconvicted, safe havens undisturbed, and the machinery of extremism unchecked. “So from our point of view, this is it,” Tharoor said, with finality. “You do this, you’re going to get this back.”
Operation Sindoor, he noted, was carried out with both precision and restraint—qualities he hopes the world recognizes. “We have a right to self-defence. We’ve exercised that right. We have not done so irresponsibly,” he stated, reinforcing India’s moral and strategic clarity.
In his words and in the firm yet compassionate tone he adopted, Tharoor echoed a sentiment widely felt across India: sorrow for the innocent lives lost, pride in the country’s courage, and an unwavering commitment to peace through strength.