'I Don't Work For Government, But...': Shashi Tharoor Backs India's Precision Strikes Under 'Operation Sindoor' Post-Pahalgam Attack

New York City: In a strong message to the international community, senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor outlined India’s precise and firm military response following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, while accusing Pakistan of predictable denial and deflection.

Speaking at the Indian Consulate in New York during an all-party diplomatic outreach, Tharoor called for united global action against terrorism and spotlighted India’s calibrated retaliation strategy.

Scourge of Terrorism Is Global, Not Local'

Addressing media and policy experts, Tharoor said the delegation’s visit began with a symbolic stop at the 9/11 Memorial. “It was a reminder that this is a shared global scourge,” he added, highlighting the brutal nature of the Pahalgam killings, where attackers allegedly selected victims based on religion to provoke sectarian unrest in India.

He further stated, “India responded with smart, surgical precision – striking nine specific terror infrastructure points operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad,” naming key targets in Muridke and Bahawalpur. While not a member of the ruling party, Tharoor endorsed the strikes, saying, “The time had come to hit hard and hit smart.”

#WATCH | New York, US: During an interaction at the Consulate, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, " I don't work for the government, as you know. I work for an opposition party...I myself authored an op-ed...saying the time has come to hit hard but hit smart. I'm pleased to say… pic.twitter.com/9dPVuWzZJn

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2025

Speaking about Operation Sindoor, he said, "I don't work for the government, as you know. I work for an opposition party, but I myself authored an op-ed in one of India's leading papers, within a couple of days saying that the time had come to hit hard and hit smart and I'm pleased to say that's exactly what India did."

Pakistan, China Face Flak Over UN Block

Tharoor also criticised Pakistan’s denial of involvement and China’s role in blocking references to The Resistance Front (TRF) at the UN Security Council. He pointed out that the TRF had claimed responsibility within an hour of the attack. “Sadly, this pattern is familiar – Pakistan obfuscates while its proxies kill. Worse still, China shields them on global platforms,” he asserted.

The bipartisan delegation includes MPs from parties across the political spectrum and is tasked with presenting India’s unified position on terrorism. Former Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya are also part of the group.

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