Tharoor Slams Pakistan in U.S., Cites Hillary’s ‘Vipers’ Warning
During a recent diplomatic visit to the United States, Congress MP and former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor delivered a sharp critique of Pakistan’s track record on terrorism. Representing India as part of a parliamentary delegation, Tharoor called out Islamabad’s continued sheltering of terrorist networks while presenting itself as a victim on the global stage.
In a pointed remark during the address, Tharoor referenced the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, mother of current Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, to highlight the blowback of nurturing extremism.
He remarked that the consequences of Pakistan’s duplicity were not limited to its neighbors but had tragically turned inward as well. His address was part of a larger Indian diplomatic effort to underline the country’s position on terrorism following the Pahalgam attack and India’s subsequent military response under Operation Sindoor.
Hillary Clinton Vipers Rebuke
Tharoor invoked the widely remembered warning by Hillary Clinton, who as U.S. Secretary of State had once cautioned Pakistan with the words, “You can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbors.” This metaphor has long resonated in Indian foreign policy circles and was used by Tharoor to reinforce the self-destructive nature of Pakistan’s sponsorship of terror groups.
He stated that Pakistan’s strategy of leveraging terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy has not only destabilized the region but also harmed Pakistan itself, evident in the violent fate of leaders like Benazir Bhutto. Tharoor emphasized that the global community must recognize these contradictions and stop turning a blind eye to Pakistan’s duality.
Bilawal Bhutto
Tharoor also took aim at Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto for his recent remarks at the United Nations, where Bhutto denied Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism and accused India of targeting Muslims. Tharoor termed such statements as “outrageous distortions” and underscored the irony that the son of a leader assassinated by extremists could now be defending a state that continues to harbor them.
Tharoor’s criticism was not just rhetorical. The delegation’s visit included strategic meetings with U.S. officials and community leaders, seeking to consolidate global support for India’s counter-terrorism stance and expose what he described as Pakistan’s “habitual duplicity” in global forums.
