Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has praised India’s decisive response to the Pahalgam terror attack, stating that the country “hit hard and hit smart” in its counterterror operations. Speaking at the Indian Consulate in New York, Tharoor emphasized that India sent a clear message that it would not tolerate terrorism, following the April 22 attack that claimed 26 lives.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Precision Strikes
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine known terrorist bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes focused on Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Muridke base and Jaish-e-Mohammad’s Bahawalpur headquarters, both linked to major terror activities.
Tharoor, despite being in the Opposition, acknowledged the government’s strategic approach, stating, “I myself authored an op-ed saying the time had come to hit hard but hit smart. I’m pleased to say that’s exactly what India did.”
Global Outreach Against Terrorism
Tharoor is leading an all-party delegation under Operation Sindoor Outreach, visiting five nations—the United States, Guyana, Panama, Brazil, and Colombia—to reinforce India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism.
During his speech, he highlighted the delegation’s visit to the 9/11 Memorial, calling it a symbol of global solidarity against terrorism. He urged international cooperation to combat state-sponsored terror networks.
Political and Diplomatic Implications
Tharoor noted that the Resistance Front (TRF), a front organization for Lashkar-e-Taiba, had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack within an hour. He criticized Pakistan’s denial and China’s role in removing TRF references from a UN Security Council statement.
India’s calibrated response was designed to deliver retribution without escalating into a prolonged conflict, reinforcing its commitment to national security.
