Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation in the United States, declared that India will hold accountable those responsible for terror attacks like the recent one in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April.
He emphasised that India will not permit militants to kill its citizens with impunity.
Speaking during interactions with US think-tanks at the American Embassy on Thursday, Tharoor reiterated India’s firm stance, noting, “There will be a price to pay for carrying out terror attacks such as the one in Pahalgam.”
He further added, “Our country focuses on growth and development, aiming to lift those below the poverty line into the India of our dreams. However, when such attacks occur with clear military-style planning, we must send a strong message that this will not be tolerated.”
Delegation Engages With US Leaders And Think-Tanks
The delegation, which includes MPs from various parties such as Lok Janshakti Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Telugu Desam Party, BJP, Shiv Sena, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has received widespread solidarity and understanding during their US visit.
Tharoor noted, “Everywhere we went, without exception, we received both understanding and solidarity, which were the main objectives of our visit.”
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Earlier, the group met US Vice-President JD Vance in Washington DC, where they discussed counter-terrorism and technological cooperation.
Tharoor described the meeting as ‘constructive and productive’, reinforcing the India-US strategic partnership.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also highlighted the discussions, pointing out Vance’s recent visit to India, where he witnessed firsthand the impact of Pakistan-backed terror attacks.
Engagement With US Congress And Indian Diaspora
On Capitol Hill, the delegation held talks with bipartisan leaders of the Congressional India Caucus, including Republicans Andy Barr and Rich McCormick, and Democrats Ro Khanna and Mark Veasey.
Tharoor praised the ‘strong bipartisan consensus’ on strengthening ties between India and the US.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi reported a successful public event at the Willard Hotel attended by over 350 people from the Indian diaspora.
He emphasised the diaspora’s role as a catalyst for economic and geopolitical cooperation and urged them to engage with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Context: Operation Sindoor And Military Response
The delegation arrived in the US following a visit to Brazil, as part of India’s broader diplomatic outreach after Operation Sindoor.
Launched on 7 May, this military operation responded to the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people and injured many others.
Indian Armed Forces subsequently struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, killing over 100 terrorists linked to groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
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