Congress member Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday claimed that the actual challenge in opening up a dialogue with Pakistan is not linguistic variations but on agreeing to a common commitment to peace and good manners.
He underlined that New Delhi is willing to talk if Islamabad makes serious efforts towards dismantling the infamous terrorist infrastructure rooted throughout the country.
Tharoor, who is presently at the helm of an all-party parliamentary visit to Brazil on an outreach mission, said that the delegation had effectively conveyed India's unyielding position on terrorism to a number of Latin American countries, including some where there would have been previous misconceptions.
This is what we constantly remind our interlocutors. If Pakistan is as innocent as they purport to be, why do they provide sanctuary to wanted terrorists?. Why can they live in peace, to hold training camps.and radicalise more people, to arm and get people to train their arms and Kalashnikovs.," Tharoor informed PTI Videos.
He reaffirmed that the problem with Pakistan is not one of communication medium, but of principle and intent. "You crack down on this infrastructure of terrorism visible everywhere in your country. Then, of course, we can talk," he added.
We can communicate with them in Hindustani. We can communicate with them in Punjabi. We can communicate with them in English. There is no issue of finding common ground with Pakistan. The issue is finding a common vision of decency, of peace. We want to be left alone, to grow and to develop. They don't want to leave us alone. They want to harass us. They want to undermine us," Tharoor added.
"They want to bleed us this entire bleeding to death India by 1,000 cuts. They are not going to bleed to death that easily. Forget that idea," he said.
Pursuant to a question on whether Brazil, host of the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, could issue a condemnation against acts of terrorism against Indian citizens, Tharoor responded, "I think, sincerely, BRICS has another agenda. I'm not saying that they might not wish to show solidarity. I mean, that's really not my brief.I don't know, and I don't even know if it's included in the draft that they're already working on."
Tharoor also clarified that forums abroad are not India's top priority in the matter. "As much as the other matters you're interested in, you know, international forums are not our concern. Our concern is genuinely our bilateral relationship with Pakistan and Pakistan's utter failure to destroy the infrastructure of terrorism in their nation," he clarified.
He also emphasized that the delegation had previously toured four nations—Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil—and was welcomed positively in all.
"And I would say in all four countries, we've had a very, clear success, if that's the word, I don't like to boast of success. That's for others to judge. But we have got our message through very clearly, including to those who may have had some misunderstandings," he said, specifically citing Colombia.
Tharoor had earlier reported that once his delegation explained India's stand on cross-border terrorism, Colombia retracted an earlier message of condolences to Pakistan after Indian military action following the Pahalgam terror attack.
And because we managed to convey our message, we have definitely been able, in my opinion, to return feeling that these nations better comprehend our position and are in complete solidarity with our fight against terrorism, which is the overall objective of our visit," he added.
The delegation concluded their Brazil trip with a meeting with Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.
The Indian parliamentary delegation's visit ended on a high note with a meeting with the Vice President of Brazil @geraldoalckmin. The delegation thanked him for Brazil's strong opposition to terrorism and complimented his initiative on strengthening bilateral relations in trade, defence, science & technology, and other areas of importance," the Indian Embassy in Brazil wrote on X.
The group is next set to visit Washington DC.
Speaking about their US visit, Tharoor stated, "My expectations are that it's going to be a demanding visit. We have a lot of different types of audiences."
"Based on some of the information being around, flying around, we get some interesting and perhaps tough questions, which we will be very happy to answer," he said.
In sharing their experiences from their foray in Brazil, Tharoor tweeted on X that it had been a busy day, observing the robust expressions of India's support from the government and legislative sides. The delegation held a substantive meeting with Senator Nelsinho Trad, who leads the India-Brazil Friendship Front and the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.
Deeply appreciate his perceptive understanding & firm support of India's reading of recent developments. Such camaraderie only deepens the ties between our democracies! Brazil and India," Tharoor tweeted.
The delegation also had an interaction with India's new Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia. At a lunch hosted by the Ambassador, Tharoor said he had the chance to meet two eminent academic couples—Prof. Vijayendra Kumar and his wife Devi, who used to teach Hindi in Brazil, and Prof. Haridas and his wife Padmaja from Kerala.
"Prof Kumar told me that apart from the diplomats, Brasilia has only five Indian families among the 4 million population, which I cannot believe!" Tharoor said.
The delegation also met with Amb. Celso Amorim, Special Adviser to the President of Brazil, and reaffirmed India's stand on terrorism, which is unyielding.
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