Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation to the United States, said there was complete unanimity in condemning terrorism and supporting India’s right to self-defence during their high-level meeting with the US House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) in Washington.
Following the meeting, Tharoor told reporters, “There was complete unanimity in condemning the terrorist attacks and in defending India’s right to defend itself. We are very grateful for the strong and unconditional support.” He noted that discussions also covered broader issues such as trade, economy, student visas, and mutual efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
The Indian delegation met with top US lawmakers, including HFAC Chairman Brian Mast, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, and other key subcommittee chairs and members. The group was briefed on Operation Sindoor—India’s military response to cross-border terrorism—and highlighted the April 22 Pahalgam attack which killed 26 people.
The Indian Embassy in the US said the HFAC leadership unequivocally condemned the attack and reiterated support for India’s zero-tolerance stance against terrorism. “India and the USA stand together in their unwavering resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms,” the Embassy stated.
The delegation—comprising MPs from various parties including Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu—also met with the bipartisan leadership of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers including Ro Khanna, Rich McCormick, Andy Barr, and Marc Veasey reaffirmed bipartisan support for India’s right to respond to terrorist threats.
The visit aims to reinforce strategic, economic, and people-to-people ties between India and the US. The delegation is also engaging with academic institutions, media, and members of the Indian diaspora. Upon arrival, Tharoor participated in a CBS News interview and received a briefing from India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra.
Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7, was a direct military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The operation targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, resulting in the elimination of over 100 terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
