In Brasilia, Brazil, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party delegation, conveyed a firm diplomatic message emphasizing that India's recent military action, Operation Sindoor, was not an act of war but a measured response to a heinous act of terror. The Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the loss of 26 lives, aimed to destabilize Kashmir's growing economy and incite communal discord throughout India.
Tharoor, in his interaction with Brazilian Ambassador Celso Amorim, stated, "The whole idea was to signal that we are not trying to start a war. We are just conducting retribution for an act of terror, which was a really vile act... It was horrendous and meant to do the maximum possible damage to India.” He underscored India's firm stance against terrorism and stressed the importance of garnering global understanding and support in the face of increasing cross-border attacks.
Tharoor highlighted that the purpose of the delegation's visit was to seek greater sympathy and understanding from allies and even countries not necessarily aligned with India. He specifically acknowledged Brazil's recent outreach, including President Lula da Silva's personal phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the attack, emphasizing the high regard in which India holds Brazil.
During discussions with Brazilian officials, including Vice Foreign Minister Maria Laura da Rocha and Senator Nelsinho Trad, President of the India-Brazil Friendship Front, the Indian delegation focused on counter-terrorism cooperation in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. Tharoor described the meeting with the Vice Foreign Minister as "excellent" and noted the warm and friendly atmosphere, emphasizing that the Brazilian government demonstrated a clear understanding of India's position and the importance of solidarity in the fight against terrorism. Senator Trad assured the delegation of his and his colleagues' support in the Brazilian Parliament, reinforcing the strong bond between the two democracies.
Tharoor lamented the lack of action in bringing the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice, stating that Pakistan has been providing safe havens, financing, and training to terrorists. He criticized the removal of the Resistance Front's name from a UN Security Council statement due to the opposition of Pakistan, supported by China. He expressed his belief that both India and Brazil should have a presence on the Security Council to address such issues effectively.
Tharoor clarified that Operation Sindoor was a strong message to terrorists and their supporters, not a declaration of war. He reiterated that if Pakistan had not expanded the conflict, India would not have targeted Pakistani military facilitators. The delegation's visit to Brazil is part of a broader diplomatic effort, following their visit to Colombia, where they successfully rectified a statement that had condoled the Pakistani victims of Operation Sindoor, securing a more positive and supportive response from the Colombian government and parliament. The delegation also visited Guyana and Panama, both members of the Security Council, where they received tremendous understanding and support for their mission and expressions of solidarity in the fight against terror. Following their meetings in Brazil, the delegation is scheduled to continue their diplomatic outreach with a visit to the United States.
