In Moscow, Shashi Tharoor, the Indian Chair of the Committee on External Affairs, has firmly stated that Pakistan is a "safe haven" for terrorist organizations. Speaking at a meeting with Russian Liberal Democratic Party Chair (LDPR) Leonid Slutsky on Tuesday, Tharoor asserted that Pakistan provides a sanctuary for these groups, offering them headquarters, training, funding, and arms.

Tharoor highlighted the difficulties in ignoring the fact that Pakistan sponsors terrorist groups. He pointed out that these groups have their bases within Pakistan, where they receive training and financial support, and from where they are armed and dispatched. During the interaction, Tharoor spoke in French to explain to the Russian politician why Pakistan should not be included in a parliament on anti-terrorism. He emphasized that Pakistan funds and trains terrorists on its own soil, making their inclusion in an anti-terrorism forum counterproductive.

This statement comes amidst Tharoor's ongoing diplomatic outreach efforts. Days after concluding a multi-nation tour related to Operation Sindoor, Tharoor was assigned a second round of diplomatic missions, including visits to Russia, the UK, and potentially Greece. The goal of these missions is to strengthen India's position among its allies and amplify its voice on international issues.

Tharoor's visit to Russia is particularly significant given the recent interactions between Pakistani and U.S. leaders. Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief, recently had a one-on-one meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, raising concerns in India. Therefore, the Indian government is keen on leveraging Tharoor's diplomatic skills to reinforce its stance on critical issues like counter-terrorism.

Earlier, an all-party delegation led by Tharoor visited the United States, where they met with Vice President J D Vance and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. During these meetings, Tharoor and his team conveyed India's firm position against cross-border terrorism. They emphasized the need for a consistent and coordinated global response to combat terrorism and addressed the evolving tactics of transnational terrorist groups, including their use of humanitarian cover and emerging technologies to spread violence.

Tharoor has also stressed that India seeks accountability for cross-border terrorist attacks and is working to sensitize international partners about the importance of a united front against terrorism. In New York, he stated that India is not interested in warfare with Pakistan, preferring to focus on economic growth and development. However, he also noted that Pakistan's desire to acquire territory under India's control through terrorism is unacceptable.