Washington Visit Yields Strong Diplomatic Gains For India: Tharoor

India has received ‘total support and solidarity’ from US lawmakers for its ongoing fight against terrorism, including the rationale behind ‘Operation Sindoor’, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor confirmed during a press briefing in Washington.

Leading a cross-party Indian parliamentary delegation, Tharoor emphasised the absence of any scepticism or criticism during high-level meetings on Capitol Hill.

“This has been one of the most positive diplomatic engagements,” said Tharoor, adding that the delegation encountered ‘very, very positive responses’ across all meetings.

The delegation met with the India Caucus in the US Congress, members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee – including the chairs of subcommittees on South Asia and East Asia – and six senators, five of whom serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and one on the Intelligence Committee.

These meetings focused heavily on terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, for which The Resistance Front, affiliated with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility.

All US lawmakers expressed full support for India’s right to self-defence.

Key Voices Of Support

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, co-chair of the India Caucus, wrote on X, “I joined my India Caucus Co-Chair @RepMcCormick in meeting with an all-party delegation of Indian parliamentarians led by @ShashiTharoor. We discussed the importance of strengthening U.S.-India counterterrorism cooperation and dismantling the terrorist groups that are responsible for the April 22 attacks.”

Republican Senator Dave McCormick, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on South Asia and Counterterrorism, echoed these sentiments.

“We discussed the shared values between the U.S. and India, combatting terrorism and pushing back against authoritarian states, while expanding our economic relationship to build a free and democratic future for generations to come,” he posted on X.

Representative Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, met Tharoor and expressed condolences for the Pahalgam victims while reaffirming bipartisan support for the US-India partnership.

Wider Engagements & Economic Dialogue

Tharoor noted that members of the delegation, including Shashank Mani Tripathi, held parallel meetings focused on trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation.

“There’s a bipartisan acceptance that both India and the US, as vibrant democracies, have a shared role in shaping the global future,” Tharoor said.

The team also addressed the Indian diaspora at the National Press Club, urging members to advocate for India with their local Congressional representatives.

“They listen to you. They respect you. We are proud of what you represent,” said Tharoor.

The delegation included MPs from across India’s political spectrum — Shambhavi Choudhary (LJP-RV), Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya (BJP), and GM Harish Balayogi (TDP).

Tharoor concluded, “In all our meetings, the emphasis wasn’t just on counterterrorism but on shared democratic values and economic cooperation — a clear sign of the deepening India-US relationship.”

Also Read: Indian Parliamentary Delegation In Washington Reaffirms Anti-Terror Commitment; Highlights ‘Operation Sindoor’