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We came to explain, not to ask: Tharoor on India’s global outreach
The United States is the final stop for the nine-member delegation after successful visits to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil.
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Avani Acharya - Wed, 04, Jun 2025
- 18:26 EDT
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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor / X/@IndianEmbassyUS
India’s recent all-party parliamentary delegations to key global partners were driven by a clear purpose: to explain India’s stance on cross-border terrorism, not to seek favors or sympathy, said Indian MP Shashi Tharoor, who was leading a parliamentary delegation to the United States.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on June 4 , Tharoor said, “It's not that we've come here saying, Would you do this for us? That's not what this is all about, and that's true by every country we've been to. We're just saying this is our position. We want you to understand. And if you have any questions, we'll answer them.”
“We want the world to understand. Not only what just happened, but what could happen again if Pakistan does not control these elements on its soil," the Congress MP said.
The fourth-term member of parliament was joined at the Press Club by members of the delegation: Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejasvi Surya, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora and Former Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The United States is the final stop for the nine-member delegation after successful visits to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil.
US Mediation
When asked about theTrump administration’s role in the issue, Tharoor said, "I think the US has understood for some time now that India has a very clear position that there will be no talks with a gun pointed at our head.”
On the willingness by US President Donald Trump to mediate in the matter, Tharoor said, “We have enormous respect for the American Presidency and the American President. All we can say for ourselves is that we have never particularly wanted to ask anyone to mediate.., we have no real difficulty in speaking the same language as the Pakistanis. As long as they use the language of terrorism, we will use the language of force, and that doesn't require a third party."
The senior parliamentarian also welcomed the unconditional support received from the lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The delegation interacted with members of the House India Caucus, House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Intelligence Committee, and the Senate India Caucus.
Also Read: India Caucus meets Tharoor-led delegation, backs India’s stand on terrorism
Calling for deepening India-US cooperation in combating terror, Shiv Sena MP Deora said, “We both understand cross-border terrorism very well. We understand Pakistan-sponsored terrorism extremely well; broadening that scope of cooperation in that area is extremely critical..."
Global terror threat
Underlining the fact that Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is a global threat, BJP MP Surya said, “I have a three-page list that mentions a list of major terrorist attacks affecting the United States and their connection with Pakistan. More than 32 incidents are mentioned here. So the world needs to take note that the terror that is emanating from Pakistan is not just a threat to the immediate geography, but there's a threat to the whole world.”
On Washington’s stance in the matter, Ambassador Sandhu urged American policymakers to evaluate the threat of terrorism as a national security issue. “Do keep in mind that these are the same terrorists who have threatened the United States in the past, and you have just witnessed terrorism here and can do it in the future too. So, India is fighting the battle on behalf of the world, especially the United States.”
Pakistani face-off
Commenting on the face-off with a Pakistani delegation led by their former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, which was also in the US capital at the same time, Deora said, “It's unfortunate that a younger politician from Pakistan, who should be spending more of his time fixing his own country, is in the US, defending some of those who may be responsible for assassinating his mother.”
Ambassador Sandhu added, “Mr (Bilawal) Bhutto should be looking very seriously at curbing terrorism in Pakistan if he can, if the Field Marshal allows him…”
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