Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation on a visit to Brazil, has emphasized the significance of the delegation's upcoming US visit as a decisive step towards addressing global misperceptions regarding Operation Sindoor and India's role in recent South Asian tension.
Tharoor's remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump's frequent assertions that his government facilitated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan—an insistence New Delhi has categorically denied. Indian policymakers insist that the action to de-escalate had been initiated by Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and not under U.S. mediation.
Washington is key in this narrative battle
Talking to IANS on the sidelines of diplomatic interactions in Brazil, Tharoor outlined that the U.S. capital is both an opportunity and a challenge because of the myriad conflicting narratives prevailing in political and media circles.
"Washington is a very interesting one because it is a big country, a superpower with immense influence in the world, and there are huge crosscurrents of information, misinformation, and competing narratives going around," Tharoor said. "So, we have quite a bit of work to do there."
The Indian delegation intends to interact with a wide range of stakeholders, including high-level government officials, Capitol Hill lawmakers, policy think tanks, and leading media.
Seeking global unity in the fight against terrorism
Tharoor also reaffirmed the ultimate objective of the diplomatic mission: mobilizing international opinion against terrorism. He noted that while most countries naturally call for dialogue, they conveniently forget the ground reality of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
We're seeking solidarity in our fight against terror," he said. "In most nations, the reflex is to say, 'Why not negotiate?' But how do you negotiate with those who are planting terrorists on your border or holding guns to your people's heads?"
He made it clear that genuine dialogue with Pakistan cannot start until Pakistan demolishes its terror infrastructure and stops giving havens to militants.
"Dismantle the infrastructure first
The beginning point must be the dismantling of the infrastructure of terrorism," Tharoor said. "Stop providing shelter to murderers and killers—arrest them, try them. Then we can negotiate. But that has not happened."
Tharoor opined that the delegation has already made considerable progress in creating an understanding and eliciting solidarity in a number of countries.
“For us, ensuring that our partners understand India’s position and walk away with a sense of solidarity was the goal—and we’ve achieved that,” he added.
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