Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is spearheading the Indian delegation for Operation Sindoor, a global anti-terror diplomatic initiative, was posed a pointed question by none other than his son, Ishaan Tharoor, during a high-profile meet in Washington DC.
The encounter took place during the final leg of the delegation’s tour, which earlier included visits to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, aimed at galvanizing international support following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.
Ishaan Tharoor’s Tough Question to His Father
Ishaan Tharoor, a global affairs columnist at The Washington Post, asked his father during the Washington meet:
“On this tour, you’ve been to various countries in the Western Hemisphere. Have any of your government interlocutors asked you to show evidence of Pakistan’s culpability in the initial attack?”
He followed up by questioning Pakistan’s repeated denials of involvement in the Pahalgam attack, seeking Shashi Tharoor’s response on how India is addressing these denials diplomatically.
Shashi Tharoor’s Response: ‘No One Had Any Doubt’
Tharoor welcomed the question and jokingly clarified, “I haven’t planted this question,” before giving a three-point explanation for why no foreign government has sought evidence of Pakistan’s role:
1. Pattern of Denial After Terror Attacks
“There is a 37-year pattern of Pakistan launching terror attacks and then denying them,” Tharoor stated, referencing past events like the Osama bin Laden episode, where Pakistan claimed ignorance of his presence despite him being found in Abbottabad, next to a military base.
He also reminded attendees of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, where captured terrorist Ajmal Kasab was confirmed to be Pakistani, contradicting official denials.
2. The Resistance Front (TRF)
Tharoor identified The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba—as the group that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.
“TRF is not only banned by India, but also by the United Nations and the U.S. State Department, and yet it continues to operate freely from Muridke in Pakistan,” he emphasized.
3. Funerals in Pakistan Following Indian Strikes
Tharoor concluded by pointing to the May 7 retaliatory strikes by India on terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He noted that funerals for operatives from groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba were held after these strikes, suggesting direct Pakistani links to the terror infrastructure.
Operation Sindoor and India’s Global Anti-Terror Push
Under Operation Sindoor, the Indian delegation is seeking to build international consensus against state-sponsored terrorism, particularly emphasizing Pakistan’s continued support for proscribed groups.
While foreign governments have so far refrained from officially demanding evidence, Tharoor’s statements reflect India’s confidence in the strength of its case and the global credibility of its anti-terror diplomacy.
Conclusion:
The Tharoor-Tharoor exchange in Washington has drawn attention not just for its personal dimension but also for the serious international policy issues it raised. As India pushes forward with its campaign, the Pahalgam attack remains a focal point for rallying global opinion against cross-border terrorism.