NEW DELHI, WASHINGTON, D.C., June 5: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday reaffirmed India’s long-standing position that it does not require any external mediation in its dealings with Pakistan, stating that the country never sought anyone’s intervention during the recent military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
“We have enormous respect for the American presidency,” Tharoor said, addressing journalists at the National Press Club. “But we’ve never particularly wanted to ask anyone to mediate. That doesn’t require a third party.”
Tharoor, who is leading an all-party parliamentary delegation on a diplomatic outreach mission, said India responded to Pakistan’s language of terrorism with the “language of force,” and needed no persuasion to halt operations.
“No one needed to tell us to stop,” he remarked. “We were prepared to stop the moment Pakistan did. If they [the Americans] told the Pakistanis ‘you better stop because the Indians are willing to stop’, then that was a wonderful gesture — vis-à-vis Pakistan.”
The delegation, which includes MPs Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur Balayogi, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Milind Deora, Tejasvi Surya, and former Indian ambassador to the US Taranjit Sandhu, arrived in Washington after visiting Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. Their visit follows the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and subsequent Operation Sindoor, under which India conducted targeted strikes on terror infrastructure across the border.
Responding to questions on former US President Donald Trump’s claims of mediating during the conflict, Tharoor said, “In our conversations, some of these things didn’t come up. We have an important and valuable strategic partnership with Washington that we wouldn’t want to jeopardise over a matter of detail.”
He added, “If Pakistan dismantles the infrastructure of terrorism, we can talk to them again — without needing an intermediary.”
When asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “surrendered” after Trump’s phone call, Tharoor declined to engage in domestic political debate while abroad. Milind Deora, a Congress MP in the delegation, praised Tharoor for prioritising national interest over party lines. “He always puts country before party,” Deora said, with BJP MP Tejasvi Surya concurring: “Absolutely.”
On the US role in encouraging dialogue, Tharoor was clear: “India will not talk with a gun pointed at our head. You don’t talk to people who are threatening your children and then ask to negotiate.”
At a press briefing held at the Indian Embassy, Tharoor reiterated that India’s position was consistent, including during conversations on Capitol Hill. “Whether it’s the US or anyone else, every time we’re asked whether mediation would help, our answer remains — there can be no talks under threat.”
Following the Pahalgam attack, India struck terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. Pakistan attempted counter-attacks on Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The hostilities ceased after military-level discussions on May 10 led to an understanding to stop further action.
The delegation’s mission to North and South America has aimed at reinforcing India’s strategic position, clarifying its response to cross-border terrorism, and pushing back against claims of foreign interference.
