Congress leader Shashi Tharoor declares that Pakistan-based terrorists will not be allowed to cross the border and kill Indian citizens with impunity.
India’s Firm Stand Against Terrorism: Operation Sindoor Sends a Clear Message
The Pahalgam Attack and India’s Response
On April 22, a horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed 26 lives, including one Nepalese citizen. The attackers, linked to The Resistance Front, targeted tourists based on their religion, exposing the brutality of terrorism. India’s response was swift and precise: Operation Sindoor, a series of targeted strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, speaking in New York, emphasized that this operation was not an act of aggression but a necessary act of self-defense, signaling that India will not tolerate cross-border terrorism.
A New Norm for Accountability
Tharoor, leading a multi-party delegation of Indian parliamentarians to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the US, underscored a shift in India’s approach. “No one in Pakistan can believe they can cross the border, kill our citizens, and walk away,” he told a gathering of Indian-American community leaders and media. Operation Sindoor, he said, sets a “new norm” where terrorists and their backers will face consequences. The 88-hour conflict, sparked by the Pahalgam attack, was avoidable, Tharoor noted, but it reinforced India’s determination to protect its people.
Pakistan’s Role and India’s Restraint
Tharoor highlighted Pakistan’s persistent failure to dismantle terror networks, pointing to past attacks like 26/11 in Mumbai, Uri, and Pulwama. Despite diplomatic efforts—dossiers, sanctions complaints, and dialogue—Pakistan has offered only denial, he said. Operation Sindoor, however, was executed with precision and restraint, targeting only terror infrastructure. “We have no interest in war,” Tharoor clarified, stressing India’s focus on economic growth, technology, and lifting millions out of poverty. Yet, Pakistan’s revisionist ambitions, coveting Indian territory, leave India no choice but to respond firmly.
A Global Message of Resolve
The delegation, including MPs from JMM, TDP, BJP, Shiv Sena, and former Ambassador Taranjit Sandhu, is traveling to clarify that the conflict stemmed from the Pahalgam attack, not Operation Sindoor, as Pakistan claims. Tharoor’s message to the world is clear: India seeks peace to build a thriving, modern nation but will not allow terrorism to derail its progress. “We’ve shown we can act with precision and defend ourselves responsibly,” he said, urging global understanding of India’s position.
