Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party Indian delegation to the United States, strongly condemned Pakistan’s continued use of terrorism as a strategic tool, calling it “unacceptable” and a threat to global peace.
The remarks came during a media briefing at the Indian Consulate in New York, following the delegation’s visit to the 9/11 Memorial.
“We are not interested in warfare with Pakistan. India is a status quo power focused on economic growth and uplifting its people,” said Tharoor. “But Pakistan covets Indian territory and resorts to terrorism when conventional means fail. This cannot be tolerated.”
The delegation, comprising MPs from across party lines—including Tejasvi Surya (BJP), Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP) and Ganti Harish Madhur (TDP)—emphasized India’s stance against state-sponsored terrorism, especially in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.
The visit to the 9/11 site served both as a symbolic gesture and a strategic message. “It was a moving moment, but also a strong message that terrorism is a shared challenge for India and the US,” Tharoor said. “This is a global scourge that must be fought with unity and resolve.”
Speaking on the Pahalgam attack, Tharoor said the assailants targeted victims based on religion to provoke communal tensions. The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, quickly claimed responsibility.
India had submitted intelligence about TRF to the UN Sanctions Committee in 2023 and 2024. However, after the April attack, Pakistan denied involvement and reportedly succeeded in removing TRF’s mention from a draft UN Security Council statement, with China’s support, Tharoor added.
The delegation will now travel to Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia to further advocate for international cooperation against terrorism and reinforce India’s diplomatic outreach in the Global South.
