Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading a multi-party delegation to Panama, reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to countering terrorism, declaring that the country will respond firmly to any further attacks.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Indian Embassy on Wednesday (local time), Tharoor invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings to highlight India’s right to defend itself without fear. “He (Gandhi) taught us to live without fear… but also to stand up for our rights and values. We are now fighting freedom from fear against terrorists—malign men who believe they can advance political or religious causes by killing innocent people,” Tharoor said.
Referring directly to India’s retaliation after recent attacks, he stated, “Even the land of Mahatma Gandhi will not turn the other cheek. We will respond.”
Tharoor also criticized Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism, pointing to the presence of top Pakistani Army and police officials at the funeral of UN-designated terrorists killed in India’s Operation Sindoor. “You don’t mourn for people you don’t know,” he said, underscoring the implication of state complicity.
He also linked the Pahalgam terror attack to broader efforts by the Pakistani military to destabilize India and its growing tourism economy, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. “The goal was to undermine our country and disrupt the booming Kashmiri economy. I was told there were more tourists in Pahalgam than in Aspen, Colorado,” he added.
Earlier the same day, the Indian delegation led by Tharoor met with Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino at the Presidential Palace to further discussions on terrorism and strengthen bilateral ties.
The delegation includes MPs from various political parties such as Shambhavi Chaudhary (LJP), Sarfaraz Ahmed (JMM), G M Harish Balayagi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejaswi Surya, Bhubaneswar Kalita (all BJP), Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena), and former Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, alongside Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora.
The visit is part of India’s international outreach to highlight the country’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism and garner global support against state-sponsored extremism.
