During a high-level meeting with Panama Assembly President Dana Castaneda, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an Indian all-party parliamentary delegation, firmly conveyed India’s uncompromising stand against terrorism and briefed Panamanian leaders on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Tharoor emphasized that while India is a democracy with diverse political views, the nation is united when it comes to national security.
“We all come from different political backgrounds and regions, but we are united in national purpose. After the Pahalgam terror attack, we waited for Pakistan to act. When nothing happened, we took calibrated action on May 7 against known terror bases inside Pakistan,” Tharoor said.
He added that India had no desire to escalate tensions or start a war, but strongly believed that acts of terror must not go unanswered.
“We had no interest in starting a war, but we felt that a terrorist act must not go unpunished,” he asserted.
Anticipating future threats, Tharoor urged for continued support and understanding from Panama in case of future terror incidents, stating: “We believe the problem is not over. If there is another terrorist attack tomorrow, we hope we will already have your understanding in advance.”
In response, Panama’s Assembly President Dana Castaneda assured the delegation of Panama’s firm legal stance against terrorism.
“We have a very strong law against terrorism,” Castaneda affirmed.
The three-day official visit to Panama comes after the delegation’s engagements in Guyana. According to the Indian Embassy in Panama, the delegation will meet Panamanian leaders, strategic experts, media, and members of the Indian diaspora, reinforcing India’s global outreach campaign following Operation Sindoor.
As per the Indian Embassy’s official statement: “The delegation aims to underline our strong message of unity and brotherhood, as well as India’s collective resolve to fight against the scourge of terrorism.”
The delegation includes MPs Sarfaraz Ahmed, G M Harish Balayogi, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejasvi Surya, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Mallikarjun Devda, Milind Deora, and former Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
Their mission is part of India’s broader diplomatic effort to counter global misinformation, expose Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism, and build international consensus for a zero-tolerance approach toward terror.
