Image Credit: X account @ShashiTharoor
India Won’t First Normalize Ties; Onus on Pakistan: Tharoor
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said that India will not take the first step in normalizing ties with Pakistan. He explained that decades of past outreach had ended in disappointment, from Nehru’s 1950 pact with Liaquat Ali Khan to Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 1999 Lahore visit and Narendra Modi’s surprise trip to Lahore in 2015. According to him, each attempt was followed by hostile actions from Pakistan, which has eroded trust.
Pakistan Urged to Act on Terror
Tharoor stressed that Pakistan must dismantle terror groups within its territory before talks can move forward. He referred to UN-designated terrorists operating openly and said the 2008 Mumbai attack investigations remain incomplete despite India giving detailed evidence. He added that until Islamabad demonstrates credible action against such groups, India has no reason to alter its position.
No Role for Outside Mediation
Tharoor also dismissed the idea that foreign pressure shapes India’s approach toward Pakistan. Referring indirectly to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on mediation, he stated that India’s own military decisions forced Pakistan to seek ceasefire talks, not any international intervention.
