In a powerful message from a diplomatic forum in Guyana, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor reaffirmed India’s commitment to peace while sending a clear warning to Pakistan. Referring to the recent cross-border strikes under Operation Sindoor, Shashi Tharoor said India will not hesitate to respond forcefully if provoked again. He underlined that India’s actions were purely retaliatory, not driven by aggression, and intended to dismantle terror infrastructure following the deadly Pahalgam attack.
India’s Response Was Retaliatory, Not Escalatory
Shashi Tharoor emphasized that India did not initiate the confrontation but acted in self-defense. He made it clear that the strikes under Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, were in direct response to the terror attack in Pahalgam and not a signal of war. During the operation, Indian forces targeted nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on eliminating threats from groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
The strikes were described as “focused, measured and non-escalatory,” with India consistently assuring global partners of its intent to avoid conflict. “Each strike was retaliatory, each action taken by India was only in response to Pakistan,” Shashi Tharoor stated. He reiterated that India’s actions were based on deterrence rather than aggression and that if Pakistan ceases hostilities, India would have no reason to strike again.
Diplomatic Channels and Call for Peace
Shashi Tharoor also noted that backchannel communications initiated by Pakistan led to a de-escalation, with Islamabad reaching out to India’s Director General of Military Operations on May 10. India’s diplomatic messaging remained clear throughout—there was no interest in escalating to full-blown war. “We are at peace today, and we want to remain at peace,” Shashi Tharoor declared. However, he warned, “If they hit us again, they’re going to get it back worse.”
Beyond military responses, India continues to pursue diplomatic outreach. A multi-party parliamentary delegation led by Shashi Tharoor is visiting Panama to promote India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. The delegation includes representatives from multiple political parties and aims to convey India’s unified resolve against terror while engaging with the Indian diaspora and Panamanian leadership. The visit also reinforces India’s message of peace backed by strength—a central theme of Shashi Tharoor’s speech.
