Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has asserted that language poses no significant barrier to talks between India and Pakistan; rather, the impediment is the absence of a mutual commitment to decency and peace. Speaking on Tuesday, Tharoor underlined that New Delhi would only consider engaging in dialogue with its neighbor if Islamabad undertakes verifiable action against the “infrastructure of terrorism that is visible everywhere” within its borders.
Tharoor, who recently led an all-party parliamentary delegation to Brazil, also reported success in communicating India’s “strong message” against terrorism to various Latin American nations. He claimed the delegation effectively clarified India’s position to countries that might have previously harbored misunderstandings on the issue.
“This is what we keep telling our interlocutors,” Tharoor stated, questioning Pakistan’s claims of innocence. “If Pakistan is as innocent as they claim to be, why do they give safe haven to wanted terrorists? Why are they able to live peacefully, to conduct training camps and radicalize further people, to equip arms and get people to practice their arms and Kalashnikovs…?” he added.
Tharoor further emphasized, “You crack down on this infrastructure of terrorism that is visible everywhere in your country. Then, of course, we can talk.” He alleged, “We can talk to them in Hindustani. We can talk to them in Punjabi. We can talk to them in English. There is no problem in finding common ground with Pakistan. The problem is finding a common vision for decency, for peace. We want to be left in peace, to grow and develop. They don’t want to leave us alone. They want to harass us. They want to undermine us.”
Tharoor’s visit to Latin American countries is part of a broader effort by both India and Pakistan to present their respective stances on the recent clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Meanwhile, former foreign minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is leading a nine-member high-level parliamentary delegation across several countries to articulate Pakistan’s perspective on the recent military confrontation with India and to challenge New Delhi’s narrative on the international stage.
This military confrontation occurred weeks after 26 tourists were killed in Indian Illegally Occuped Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam, an attack for which India falsely blamed Pakistan. Following the incident, India reportedly killed several innocent civilians in unprovoked attacks on Pakistan for three days before the Pakistan Armed Forces retaliated in defense with the successful Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. Pakistan downed six IAF fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations concluded on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
The Congress MP was also queried on whether India anticipates Brazil—the host nation for the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum—might issue a statement condemning terrorism against Indian citizens. In response, Tharoor stated: “I think, honestly, BRICS has a different agenda. I’m not saying that they may not want to express solidarity. I mean, that’s really not my brief. I don’t know, and I don’t even know if it’s in the draft that they’re working on already.”
According to a separate report, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Monday that recent record aircraft orders by the country’s airlines represent merely the genesis of the world’s fastest-growing domestic aviation market. “Indian carriers have placed orders for more than 2,000 new jets and that’s just a start,” Modi asserted while addressing hundreds of global aviation leaders at an airline industry summit.
