Shashi Tharoor, a prominent Indian politician and Member of Parliament, has recently articulated a firm stance on the possibility of dialogue between India and Pakistan. Tharoor emphasized that any meaningful discussion is contingent upon Pakistan taking verifiable and substantial steps to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure that exists within its borders. This message was delivered during an all-party parliamentary delegation to Brazil and other Latin American countries, with the aim of conveying India's concerns regarding Pakistan's support for terrorism.
Tharoor asserted that India has no interest in engaging in talks while under the threat of continued terrorist activities emanating from Pakistani soil. He used strong language, stating that "no nation can be expected to negotiate with a gun pointed at its forehead.” This statement underscores India's position that a peaceful and conducive environment is a prerequisite for any constructive dialogue.
The core of Tharoor's argument revolves around Pakistan's alleged harboring of known terrorists and the existence of training camps on its territory. He questioned how Pakistan could claim innocence when individuals and organizations designated as terrorists by the United Nations and the United States are allowed to operate freely within its borders. Tharoor pointed out the contradiction, questioning why these entities "are able to live peacefully, to conduct training camps, to educate people and radicalize further people, to equip arms and get people to practice their arms and Kalashnikovs on Pakistani soil."
According to Tharoor, the issue is not a lack of common languages, as Indians and Pakistanis share Hindustani, Punjabi, and English. Instead, the real obstacle is the absence of a "common vision for decency and peace." He elaborated on this point, stating that India desires to be left in peace to pursue its growth and development, but Pakistan, seemingly, "doesn't want to leave us alone. They want to harass us. They want to undermine us.” He referred to this as an attempt to inflict "bleeding to death India by a thousand cuts," a strategy he believes will ultimately fail.
In light of recent events, particularly the terror attack in Pahalgam, where civilians were targeted based on their religion, India has adopted a more assertive approach. The Indian government launched "Operation Sindoor," targeting terror launch pads across the border, sending a clear message of strong and responsible retaliation. Tharoor highlighted the precision of these strikes, emphasizing that civilian areas were avoided. He also condemned Pakistan's retaliatory shelling of civilian areas and reiterated India's policy of proportionate response: "If you hit us, we will hit you hard. If you stop, we stop.”
Tharoor also addressed the broader international context, including the BRICS forum. While acknowledging that BRICS has its own agenda, he emphasized that India's primary focus remains its bilateral relationship with Pakistan and the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure. He expressed satisfaction that the delegation successfully conveyed India's message against terrorism to Latin American countries, fostering a better understanding of India's situation and garnering solidarity in its fight against terrorism.
