Leading an all-party parliamentary delegation to the United States, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor adamantly reaffirmed India’s position on dialogue with Pakistan, stressing that no discussions can take place “with a gun pointed at our head.”
While India is open to dialogue with Pakistan, Tharoor explained at the National Press Club in Washington that such engagement is impossible as long as cross-border terrorism continues and Pakistani hostility persists.
To demonstrate India’s stance, Tharoor offered the following striking analogy: “If your neighbor lets his Rottweilers attack your kids and then says, ‘Let’s talk,’ do you think he’ll continue to talk to them until he either lets them out, locks them in a kennel, or puts them to sleep? That is all there is to it.
If someone is pointing a gun at your temples, you won’t engage in conversation. It will not take place. This comparison emphasized India’s insistence that any significant bilateral interaction be contingent upon the halting of hostile acts, especially terrorism.
“Washington has come to understand India’s clear position on this issue,” Tharoor said in reference to the United States’ role. He rejected assertions that US trade diplomacy was crucial in preventing war between India and Pakistan, pointing out that while international calls, including those from the US, were centered on de-escalation during the recent escalation, trade was never brought up. Tharoor underlined that India’s actions were solely retaliatory in response to terrorist attacks and that the country only wanted to defend itself, not prolong the conflict.
The effectiveness of India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, in focusing on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was another topic Tharoor covered.
India’s message is clear: any additional attacks will be met with decisive retaliation, he said, even though terror camps can be rebuilt. He emphasized how crucial it is that the world comprehend the immediate and possible long-term repercussions of Pakistan’s failure to control terrorist elements on its territory.
Instead of attempting to negotiate particular results or demand specific actions from the US, the all-party delegation’s visit to the US was described as an attempt to improve understanding and clarify India’s position.
We’re just saying, this is our stance, we want you to understand, and we’ll answer any questions you may have, but that’s all,” Tharoor said. We only ask that they comprehend our viewpoint, show their support, and remain by our side in the event that it occurs again. He stated unequivocally that India expects the international community to acknowledge its right to self-defense and to understand the background of its counterterrorism measures.
In Washington, Tharoor clarified that the goal of the US visit was to promote understanding rather than to request intervention or negotiation from the US or other international actors. He also emphasized the justification and implementation of Operation Sindoor and reaffirmed India’s unwavering position on not holding talks with Pakistan under the threat of terrorism.
