Shashi Tharoor strongly stated that terrorists must face consequences for their actions, emphasizing that there should be no uncertainty about this. As a Congress MP and leader of an all-party delegation for the Operation Sindoor global outreach mission, Tharoor spoke in Panama City, highlighting that despite their diverse political backgrounds, the leaders are "united in national purpose." While addressing the Panama assembly, including President Dana Castaneda and select parliamentarians, Tharoor explained that India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7 after waiting to see if the Pakistani government would respond to the perpetrators of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
"When no decisive action was taken, we launched an attack on the known headquarters of terrorist bases in Pakistan two weeks later, on May 7th. Our intention was not to initiate a war, but we believed that a terrorist act should not go unpunished," he stated.
Discussing the collaboration of leaders from various political parties for a global outreach initiative to advocate India's position on terrorism, the Congress MP remarked, "We may come from different political backgrounds and regions of India, but we are united in our national purpose."
Shashi Tharoor noted that, regrettably, the issue of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan does not appear to be resolved. "If another terrorist incident occurs tomorrow, we trust that we won’t need to return here; we will have your understanding in advance," he added.
Shashi Tharoor's Plea to Panama
Shashi Tharoor has called on Panama to assist India in urging the identification and prosecution of those responsible for crimes. During his speech at the Indian embassy in Panama, Tharoor stated, "We cannot continue to endure the pain, grief, wounds, and losses while simply appealing to the international community for help. We must ask them to exert pressure on the perpetrators to ensure that the criminals are identified and brought to justice."
The Congress MP highlighted that India has endured a series of attacks for nearly four decades. Since the initial assaults in Kashmir in 1989, the country has seen numerous tragic civilian casualties resulting from these attacks.
Shashi Tharoor emphasized that terrorists and Pakistan have consistently targeted India, driven by their desire to claim the territory of Kashmir, which is under New Delhi's administration.
"Regrettably, our wish to be left in peace is not shared by our neighbors across the border. They have consistently chosen to launch attacks against us, driven by their desire for territory that is under our control," he stated. The Congress MP continued, "This land is an integral part of the sovereign borders of the United Indian, and we will not relinquish it, even if it means enduring the costs we have faced time and again."
"Let there be no doubt," Tharoor warns terrorists, emphasizing that they will face consequences for their actions. He pointed to the Indian armed forces' decision to cross the Line of Control and even the international border during Operation Sindoor as evidence of the nation's strong commitment to combating terrorism.
The Congress MP noted that India crossed the LoC during the surgical strike on a terror base following the Uri attack in September 2015, as well as in response to the 2019 Pulwama attack. He highlighted that this level of action was unprecedented, as India did not cross the LoC even during the Kargil War.
"This time, we not only crossed the Line of Control but also the international border to target the terrorist headquarters in Balakot. We have gone further than before, striking at the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by attacking terror bases, training centers, and headquarters in nine locations," Tharoor remarked.
Panama expresses support for India
After meeting with the all-party delegation led by Tharoor, Panama Assembly President Dana Castaneda stated that the country clearly understands the message conveyed by the Indian group.
"Panama stands with India in this campaign for peace, and we hope to combat terrorism together. We have discussed these issues in detail, which will enhance our understanding of India's fight against terrorism," Castaneda told the news agency ANI.
Operation Sindoor
On May 7, the Indian armed forces initiated Operation Sindoor, executing precision strikes on nine terror infrastructures linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This operation was a direct response to the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily tourists. The mission was described as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," with the sole objective of dismantling terror networks.
Shashi Tharoor's Delegation
The all-party delegation, led by Shashi Tharoor, includes Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Tejasvi Surya (BJP), Gants Harish Madhur Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), and Taranjit Sandhu, India's former Ambassador to the US.
The delegation aims to emphasize the nation's strong message of unity and brotherhood, as well as its collective determination to combat the threat of terrorism.
