Amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, India has adopted a firm stance against cross-border terrorism, as demonstrated by "Operation Sindoor." This operation, which involved targeted strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, has been a focal point of recent diplomatic efforts to communicate India's position to the global community.
Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, is currently leading a multi-party delegation on a global outreach program. Speaking at a diplomatic forum in Guyana, Tharoor issued a stern warning to Pakistan, stating that any further provocations would be met with an even stronger response. He clarified that India remains committed to peace, and Operation Sindoor was a purely retaliatory measure in response to the Pahalgam attack. He emphasized that India does not desire war and assured international partners of this intent throughout the operation.
Tharoor highlighted that Operation Sindoor, which commenced on May 7, was a "focused, measured, and non-escalatory" response aimed at dismantling terrorist networks such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. He emphasized that each strike was retaliatory and taken only in response to actions by Pakistan. This operation saw Indian forces carry out strikes against nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Tharoor underscored India's consistent diplomatic outreach during the operation, assuring global partners of its intent to avoid war. He noted that when governments expressed concern, India conveyed the message that it was not interested in war. He further stated that India's military actions were rooted in a principle of deterrence, not aggression, and reiterated that a cessation of hostilities by Pakistan would eliminate the need for further retaliation. According to Tharoor, a de-escalation outreach from Islamabad to India's Director General of Military Operations on May 10 helped ease tensions.
In Guyana, the all-party delegation met with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who expressed a "tremendous amount of understanding" for India's position on the current events with Pakistan. Jagdeo affirmed Guyana's support for India and its stance against terrorism. He stated that all those who perpetuate terroristic acts must be brought to justice and that those who finance, train, equip, and direct them must also be seriously challenged. President Irfaan Ali described the relationship between India and Guyana as "a bond of blood" and emphasized Guyana's commitment to rejecting all forms of violence.
The delegation's visit to Guyana is part of a broader diplomatic effort by the Indian government to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Seven multi-party delegations have been formed to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community. The delegation led by Tharoor will also visit Panama to convey India's message of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
The recent military conflict between India and Pakistan, including Operation Sindoor, marks the sixth crisis between the two countries in the past 25 years. Each crisis has been more dangerous than the previous one, leaving their troubled relations in a worse state. Despite the uneasy truce and fragile ceasefire currently in place, the possibility of talks between the two countries remains limited, with Prime Minister Modi stating that talks and terror cannot go together.
India has accused Pakistan of continued denial and inaction regarding terrorist safe havens on its soil. Tharoor asserted that India has exhausted all diplomatic options, and Operation Sindoor proves India's resolve to respond precisely to terrorism. He emphasized that India is determined to establish a new bottom line, where any act of terror will be met with a swift and decisive response.
