Image Credit: X account @ShashiTharoor
Tharoor Slams Trump-Munir Lunch, Cites Osama Reminder
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has sharply criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent White House lunch with Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, calling the optics of the meeting deeply troubling. In a stinging remark aimed at Trump, Tharoor said, “I hope the food was good and he also got some food for thought,” suggesting that the opportunity should have been used to confront Pakistan’s longstanding support for terrorism.
Tharoor didn’t stop at sarcasm. He reminded the United States of the Osama bin Laden episode, pointing out how the world’s most wanted terrorist was found hiding in Abbottabad, mere miles from a Pakistani military base. “It is our hope… that everyone in the US government has not forgotten the Osama bin Laden episode,” he stated, referencing what India views as irrefutable proof of Pakistan’s double-dealing on terrorism.
Tharoor jab
Tharoor emphasized that engagements with Pakistan—especially those involving its military—should be used to send unambiguous messages about terrorism. He stressed the need for global powers, particularly the U.S., to make it clear that there is no room for states that “support terrorism… enable, equip, finance and dispatch terrorists to our country.”
His statement reflects broader unease in India regarding Trump’s recent claim of playing a role in brokering the India-Pakistan ceasefire. Indian officials have firmly maintained that the ceasefire was negotiated bilaterally at the military level, with no foreign mediation.
Trump Munir
The meeting between Trump and General Munir, held without the presence of any civilian Pakistani leaders, has raised eyebrows not just in New Delhi but also among international observers. Many interpret the move as an explicit signal of the U.S.’s continued willingness to engage Pakistan’s military establishment directly, despite its alleged involvement in harbouring extremists.
Tharoor’s remarks also come amid renewed scrutiny of Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism, especially following the recent Pahalgam attack in Jammu & Kashmir and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor. For India, the timing and tone of the Trump-Munir meeting were especially provocative.
Osama reminder
By invoking bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan, Tharoor has reignited global memories of Islamabad’s duplicitous record on counterterrorism. His warning to Washington is clear: symbolic photo-ops and diplomatic courtesies must not come at the cost of historical accountability.
The broader message from Tharoor is that strategic partnerships must be grounded in realism, not optics. As the U.S. balances ties with both India and Pakistan, Indian policymakers are watching closely to ensure counterterrorism remains at the center of any future engagement.
