Is Shashi Tharoor Leading a Critical Anti-Terrorism Mission in Guyana?

Georgetown, May 25 (NationPress) Shashi Tharoor, the leader of a delegation comprising Members of Parliament, landed in Guyana on Sunday, marking the beginning of the second phase of their mission aimed at articulating India's anti-terrorism stance and the objectives of Operation Sindoor.

"Tomorrow (Monday) is Guyana's 59th Independence Day, and we are set to attend the midnight address by President Irfaan Ali tonight," Tharoor shared in a post on X regarding his arrival.

The delegation made a stop in New York on Saturday, where they visited the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center, a symbol of America's commitment to combating terrorism, and engaged with scholars and think tank members.

According to India's High Commission in Georgetown, the team will be engaging with Guyanese leaders and key figures from the media, the Indian community, and allies of India within Guyana.

The MPs aim to stress India's unwavering message of unity and solidarity, along with a collective determination to combat the menace of terrorism, as stated in the announcement.

From Guyana, the delegation plans to continue their journey to Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, before returning to the US on June 3 for discussions in Washington.

This mission led by Tharoor is one of seven teams of Members of Parliament spreading across 33 countries to communicate India's stance following the tragic massacre of 26 civilians at Pahalgam by The Resistance Front, which is associated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba.

India retaliated by targeting nine terrorist locations in Pakistan and in the areas of occupied Kashmir.

In response, Pakistan launched attacks on Indian territory, aiming at civilian structures such as places of worship—including gurudwaras, temples, and convents—as well as medical facilities, escalating tensions further.

Highlighting national unity against terrorism, the delegation is led by Tharoor from the opposition Congress Party and includes Shambhavi from the Lok Janshakti Party, Sarfaraz Ahmad of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and Milind Murli Deora from the Shiv Sena.

Other members include Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and Tejasvi Surya from the BJP, along with GM Harish Balayogi from the Telugu Desam Party, a partner in the National Democratic Alliance.

Tejasvi Surya and Sarfaraz Ahmad reached Georgetown on Saturday night.

Surya, a BJP MP, remarked on X, "Guyana occupies a significant position in India's foreign relations, with nearly 40% of its population having Indian roots."

He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "our long-standing connections have only deepened over the last decade."

While in New York, Tharoor outlined the message the delegation intends to present during their travels.

The continuous attempts to persuade Pakistan to cease its support for terrorism and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure have proven ineffective.

Thus, he asserted, "From our perspective, this is it. If you continue this way, you will face repercussions."

"We have shown with this operation that we can act with both precision and restraint that we hope the world will recognize," he remarked.

"We are entitled to self-defense, and we have exercised that right responsibly," Tharoor concluded.