Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has flatly denied former US President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that he mediated or was instrumental in securing a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after recent hostilities. Tharoor is currently leading an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation in Washington, DC.
Reiterating India’s traditional stance of zero tolerance for terrorism and its preference for bilateral engagement on such problems, Tharoor emphasized that India has never asked any third party, including the US, to mediate its relationship with Pakistan.
According to Tharoor, India’s military reaction, Operation Sindoor, which was initiated on May 7, was a direct and restricted reprisal against Pakistan-sponsored terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that left 26 people dead and several others injured.
More than 100 terrorists connected to organizations including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in the operation, which targeted terror infrastructure throughout Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Tharoor stated that India has no aim of escalating the conflict and that its actions were a necessary response to terrorism rather than the start of a war.
He added that Pakistan asked India to halt its operations after evaluating the serious harm caused by Indian strikes, and that the mutual understanding that resulted in the cease-fire on May 10 was not the result of outside pressure. Tharoor emphasized that Pakistan’s plea for a ceasefire was triggered by satellite photos and confessions from the country that proved widespread damage to military installations throughout Pakistan.
In response to inquiries regarding the US’s involvement, Tharoor stated that although India respects the US presidency, US persuasion or mediation was not necessary. He emphasized that India’s stance has always been unambiguous: it will not participate in negotiations while being pressured or with a “gun pointed at our head.” Tharoor reaffirmed that India is willing to have talks with Pakistan as long as terrorism is addressed, but that third parties are not necessary for these discussions to take place.
The purpose of the all-party delegation’s travel to the US, which comes after stops in Brazil and other nations, is to inform important American stakeholders about Operation Sindoor, elucidate India’s position on terrorism, and allay any concerns regarding India’s intentions or behavior. Tharoor emphasized that the delegation’s goal is to guarantee that international partners have a clear understanding of India’s position, not to seek action.
Trump’s mediation allegations are categorically denied by Tharoor’s remarks in the US, which also reaffirm India’s commitment to bilateralism and emphasize that the truce with Pakistan resulted from direct conversation and mutual understanding rather than outside involvement.
