Congress MP Shashi Tharoor firmly rejected the notion of mediation between India and Pakistan, emphasizing that the two countries are fundamentally unequal in their positions and intentions. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, Shashi Tharoor described Pakistan as a “revisionist power” that supports terrorism and aims to disrupt the long-standing geopolitical order, making any form of mediation impractical. His comments come amid US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of having mediated peace between the two nations following recent tensions.
No Parity Between India and Pakistan
Shashi Tharoor highlighted that mediation implies a sense of equivalence between the parties involved — a notion India does not accept in this context. He stressed that India is a status quo power that seeks peaceful coexistence and normal relations with its neighbors. On the other hand, Pakistan is seen as a revisionist state, one that continuously challenges existing regional and international arrangements by harboring terrorists and promoting instability. According to Shashi Tharoor, this imbalance makes the idea of third-party mediation unrealistic, as it assumes both sides hold equal responsibility or power, which is not the case here.
While addressing questions about the US role in the recent conflict, Shashi Tharoor said that India maintained active communication with Washington throughout the crisis. He noted that India received several calls from senior US officials, indicating the American government’s concern and involvement. However, he was less certain about what messages were conveyed to Pakistan, saying it was “guesswork” on his part but speculated that the US influence may have been stronger on Pakistan’s side to help de-escalate the situation.
Shashi Tharoor Refutes Terrorism Equivalence Claims Amid Trump’s Mediation Assertions
Shashi Tharoor strongly rejected any comparison between terrorists and their victims, pointing out that India is a thriving democracy fighting terrorism, whereas Pakistan provides safe haven to terrorist groups. He reiterated that India sees no equivalence between a country suffering from terrorism and one supporting it.
In contrast, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly taken credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following the conflict that erupted in early May after the terror attack in Pahalgam. Trump claimed he engaged with leaders on both sides and warned that ongoing hostilities could jeopardize trade deals with the US. He expressed pride in stopping the conflict, although India maintains that the ceasefire was achieved through direct military dialogue between the two countries’ armed forces, not external mediation.
The recent cross-border tensions, marked by drone and missile strikes, lasted from May 7 to May 10, culminating in an agreement to halt hostilities brokered at the military level. Shashi Tharoor’s remarks underscore India’s stance that any peace process must acknowledge the clear power asymmetry and Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism.
