Did Shashi Tharoor's Delegation Convey India's Stance on Terrorism in the US?

Washington, June 4 (NationPress) Following a fruitful trip to Brazil, a diverse Indian Parliamentary delegation, spearheaded by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, has landed in Washington, D.C. for a two-day engagement as part of its outreach under Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam attack. The aim is to assert India's firm and united position against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

The delegation was welcomed at the airport on Tuesday evening by the Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra.

Arriving late on Tuesday, the Indian delegation will engage in discussions through June 5 with various members of the US Congress, the Donald Trump administration, think tanks, media representatives, and policymakers to update them on Operation Sindoor and India’s zero tolerance policy on terrorism.

On social media platform X, the Indian Embassy in the US announced, "An all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor has arrived in Washington, D.C. Over the next two days, the delegation will meet with US Congress members and administration officials to discuss Operation Sindoor and India's unwavering stance against terrorism."

Besides Tharoor, the nine-member delegation features Shambhavi Choudhary from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Sarfaraz Ahmad from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, GM Harish Balayogi from the Telugu Desam Party, and several MPs from the Bharatiya Janata Party including Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, along with Milind Deora from the Shiv Sena and Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the Ambassador.

This visit, following successful stops in Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, marks the final leg of India’s global diplomatic effort to shed light on Operation Sindoor and reinforce its position against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

Milind Deora tweeted, "Touchdown in Washington, DC. #OperationSindoor".

Notably, the Indian delegation is expected to encounter a Pakistani delegation led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, also visiting the US concurrently. However, Tharoor has expressed confidence in effectively communicating India's message regarding terrorism.

Earlier in Brazil, Tharoor remarked that the upcoming US visit would be crucial to countering misinformation and competing narratives around Operation Sindoor.

His comments come as US President Donald Trump continues to assert that his administration facilitated a ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan—a claim New Delhi firmly disputes.

Indian officials clarified that it was Pakistan that approached India requesting a cessation of military actions post the Pahalgam terror attack, not the reverse.

Tharoor emphasized the necessity of correcting the narrative during the delegation's final outreach in Washington.

In an IANS interview while in Brazil, Tharoor noted, "Washington presents a particularly complex scenario as it is a significant superpower with vast influence globally, and numerous narratives, both accurate and misleading, circulate there. We have substantial work ahead."

The Congress MP also articulated that many nations must acknowledge that dialogue is not feasible with those who enable cross-border terrorism.

Tharoor stressed, "We seek international solidarity in our battle against terrorism. It's evident that while some nations grasp the issues, others lack full understanding. The instinct in many countries is to advocate for dialogue; however, it is challenging to engage with those who threaten us with terrorism. Resolving this requires dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism before any meaningful dialogue can occur."

He underscored the urgency of halting support for terrorists and instead pursuing their prosecution. Tharoor stated, "For us, ensuring that these countries understand our stance and leaving with a sense of solidarity is crucial—and we believe we have achieved that."