Leading an all-party parliamentary delegation to Panama, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor made a forceful statement denouncing Pakistan’s ongoing backing for terrorism directed towards India.
Speaking to the Indian community and Panamanian officials, Tharoor emphasized that Pakistan has not reciprocated India’s wish for peaceful coexistence and has been accused of using cross-border terrorism to repeatedly target Indian territory in an effort to assert territorial claims.
Referencing attacks in Kashmir since 1989 and the significant civilian casualties they have caused, Tharoor described the suffering and losses India has endured over the past almost forty years. He stated that India can no longer endure such suffering and that it will no longer rely solely on pleading with the foreign community for assistance. India has instead adopted an aggressive and forceful reaction strategy, demonstrating that terrorist attacks will not go unpunished.
Tharoor highlighted the 2015 Uri surgical strike, in which Indian forces crossed the Line of Control for the first time to target terror bases, and the 2019 Balakot airstrike, in which India crossed the international border to strike terrorist headquarters deep inside Pakistan, as examples of how India’s counterterrorism strategy has evolved. Targeting several extremist hubs and training facilities in Pakistan’s Punjabi heartland, he said, recent operations have gone much farther.
Tharoor made particular mention of Operation Sindoor, which was started in reaction to the terror assault in Pahalgam that left 26 women widowed. He talked about the attack’s emotional toll and how the cries of survivors prompted India to take strong action. According to Tharoor, India was determined to make sure that the vermilion hue of the sindoor, which Indian women wear, matched the blood of the criminals, signifying both sorrow and a commitment to justice.
MPs from a variety of political backgrounds are part of the group, which emphasized India’s solidarity and shared commitment to combating terrorism. India does not want war, Tharoor explained, but it does stress that terror strikes must be dealt with strong reprisal in order to discourage such actions in the future. In the event that India had to defend itself once more, he also asked Panama and the international community for their understanding and assistance.
Dana Castaneda, the president of the Panamanian Assembly, met with the team during their visit and reaffirmed India’s support for its war on terrorism. The tour is a component of a larger diplomatic effort to convey India’s zero-tolerance approach against terrorism and to garner support for its position abroad.
India’s tough stance against cross-border terrorism, its readiness to respond directly when provoked, and its call for international cooperation in the fight against the menace of terrorism coming from Pakistan are all reflected in Tharoor’s remarks in Panama. The delegation’s united stance highlights the country’s agreement on this crucial security matter.
