Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, currently leading an all-party parliamentary delegation to Brazil, stated on Tuesday that India is open to resuming dialogue with Pakistan—but only if Islamabad takes credible action to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism that operates openly across its territory.
Tharoor stressed that the real challenge in engaging with Pakistan is not about language or communication, but about establishing a shared commitment to peace and decency. He emphasised that India's stance against terrorism has been conveyed effectively during the delegation’s outreach in Latin America.
“We keep asking our interlocutors—if Pakistan is as innocent as it claims, then why are wanted terrorists given shelter there? Why are they allowed to run training camps, radicalise youth, and arm them with Kalashnikovs?” Tharoor said.
“Until Pakistan dismantles this visible infrastructure of terror, there can be no meaningful conversation. But if they do take real action, of course we can talk,” he added. Addressing the common perception that India and Pakistan struggle to find common ground, Tharoor clarified: “We can talk in Hindustani, Punjabi, or English—language is not the barrier. The issue is agreeing on a common vision for peace. India wants to be left alone to grow and develop. Pakistan, however, continues to harass and undermine us.”
Possible Tharoor-Bhutto face-off in Washington DC
The Indian delegation, which includes parliamentarians Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, is expected to travel to Washington DC next.
Reports indicate that the Indian team may cross paths with a Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto, who will be in the U.S. at the same time. Bhutto’s delegation features notable figures such as former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, former Information Minister Sherry Rehman, ex-Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, and former Foreign Secretaries Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tehmina Janjua.
Also Read: Shipwreck: Tharoor writes to govt, seeks urgent containment steps
Global response to India’s anti-terror message
When asked whether India’s message on terrorism has been acknowledged by other countries, Tharoor said his team had already visited Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, and observed a strong reception in all four nations.
“In every country we visited, we were able to convey our message very clearly—even to those who may have previously misunderstood our position,” he said, citing Colombia as an example. Tharoor noted that Colombia had initially issued a condolence message to Pakistan following India's retaliatory strikes after the Pahalgam terror attack. However, after being briefed by the Indian delegation, the Colombian government withdrew the statement, acknowledging Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism.
“This outcome alone demonstrates that our mission is making an impact. These nations now better understand India's situation and have expressed strong solidarity with our stance against terrorism,” Tharoor said.
Looking ahead to the Washington DC leg of the trip, Tharoor said, “It’s going to be a challenging visit. We have a variety of audiences to engage with, and we aim to keep delivering India’s message with clarity and conviction.”
Also Read: Shashi Tharoor on Cong row over anti-terror delegation: ‘Move on’
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