Daijiworld Media Network- New York
New York, May 25: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has issued a strong message to Pakistan, declaring that no one in the neighbouring country will be allowed to kill Indian citizens with impunity any longer. Speaking in the United States during a high-level interaction with Indian-Americans, media personnel, and think tanks, Tharoor emphasized India’s resolve following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Tharoor, who is currently leading a multi-party parliamentary delegation visiting Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the US, said, “There is now going to be a new norm. No one sitting in Pakistan can assume they can walk across the border, kill Indians, and get away with it. There will be a price to pay—and that price is increasing.”
The delegation's global tour aims to convey India’s firm stance against terrorism and counter Pakistan’s narrative following the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 lives, including a Nepalese national. The Resistance Front had initially claimed responsibility for the brutal killings before retracting.
India's retaliatory action came in the form of Operation Sindoor, which involved precise strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Tharoor reiterated that India “did not start the conflict” but was compelled to respond after a series of provocations.
“We didn’t want to start anything. We just responded to terrorism. They started, we replied. If they stop, we stop. But this time, our message is unmistakable,” Tharoor said.
Highlighting India’s desire for peace and development, Tharoor underlined that the country has consistently focused on economic growth, democratic values, and technological advancement.
“India has always chosen the path of development and upliftment of its people. But our goodwill should not be mistaken for weakness,” he remarked, noting the difference between India’s status-quo approach and Pakistan’s revisionist aspirations.
Tharoor also voiced frustration over years of diplomatic efforts yielding little result. “We’ve submitted dossiers, raised it internationally, tried everything — but Pakistan has only continued to deny, protect terror outfits and provide safe havens,” he said.
He asserted that Operation Sindoor was executed with “precision and restraint,” showcasing India's capability for responsible and targeted self-defence.
Other members of the delegation include Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Ganti Harish Madhur Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Tejasvi Surya (BJP), and India’s former Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Sandhu. The group arrived in New York on Saturday and will proceed to Guyana before returning to the US on June 3.
Tharoor concluded by reiterating India’s preference for peace but stressed, “We have no interest in Pakistan’s territory or conflict. We want to grow our economy and move our people forward—but any threat to our citizens will be met with unwavering resolve.”