New Delhi:
After welcoming accurate, coordinated attacks at terrorist sites in Pakistan, after the Pahalgam attack, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that at least three countries have expressed their understanding of India’s right to defend itself against terrorism and said that Islamabad’s “all-friend”, China has not returned this way.
Speaking specially to NDTV on Wednesday, Mr. Tharoor said that a motive behind the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahgam in Jammu and Kashmir was to draw attention to the fact that the Pakistani army was becoming increasingly unpopular. The Congress leader also reiterated that his party and every Indian are standing behind the armed forces.
On the question of how the world reacted to India’s punitive, east-failure strike, Mr. Tharoor, who was also a senior diplomat, said, “Three countries, France, Russia and Israel, have clearly expressed some understanding to India’s right to save themselves against terrorism. Not all have said them.
“Chinese, who, is the quote-Ankot all-visor friend of Pakistan, and who can expect to return Pakistan more straight, has actually said that both India and Pakistan are our neighbors and we do not want to see the fight and struggle between them. To see the war and to see the war and restraint for Pakistan,” he insisted.
Praising the strike, the Thiruvananthapuram MP stated that India operated itself with “a tremendous amount of thought, calculation and calibration”. He said that a message has been sent to the terrorists that without doing anything, it is the price of paying for terror that will lay a leg on the Escalary ladder.
He said that accurate attacks were carried out after 1 o’clock, when there would be no citizens on the streets, to avoid collateral damage, and targets – the bases of terror – were carefully chosen.
“We also created a point to ensure that we have not attacked Pakistani military facilities or government facilities, because we do not believe that the army is not to do anything (with the attack of Pahalgam terror). On the contrary, we believe that the army was very far behind, to see that we are not ready to see it, we are not trying to see it, we are trying to show that we are trying to do so. It is necessary to avenge the death of innocent civilians, “he said.
The ball, Mr. Tharoor said, now it is in the court of Pakistan and if it decides to take an escalatery step, India is ready and will reply.
Courage and determination
It is expected that Islamabad is expected to return, the Congress MP said that the Pahalgam terror attack was possibly used as a turn by the Pakistan Army, but it was clear which country would be able to maintain a long struggle.
“I had already argued, and I am sure that there is not much disagreement on it, that one of the objectives behind it (Pahgam) attack was definitely that the army was in a difficult situation. It was rapidly unpopular in Pakistan. He has closed his most popular leader in Imran Khan.
Mr. Tharoor said that India has demonstrated courage and determination, which would have sent a strong message to Pakistan.
“The army cannot work alone. They need international support, they need equipment, they need weapons, they also need finance. Currently, they also need fuel, which everyone believes they believe in unlimited quantities. So if it was to make Pakistan the mistake of increasing Pakistan, and India is able to answer this, then I will be able to explain.
“The message to Pakistan is that we do not want war, you don’t need to go there; but if you do, you are going to get it,” he said.
‘Stand around the flag’
Mr. Tharoor said that the Congress was the first time to talk about national unity after the Pahalgam attack and stood concrete behind the government and the armed forces.
He said, “It can always be after time for discussion and debate about this and its qualities. Now, while the nation is still alert, we have to stand around the flag and we do – we all,” they insisted.
The Congress MP said that he was trying to take the nation with the government.
“And I must say that today our sign for Pakistan and the international community was very well done. This morning, for example, was operated by the Foreign Secretary (Vikram Misri), who himself is a Kashmiri Pandit. He was fed by two female officers – which was a wonderful gesture – which was a wonderful gesture – which was not a soft, it is a soft.
“(The head of the Pakistan Army) General Asim Munir talks about the impossibility of Hindus and Muslims living together. We are demonstrating that we are not only united, we are India against terror. We are India against the evil machines of Pakistanis. We are not divided within us. I am proud of that.”
‘No time for some discussions’
On the questions being raised about the evidence of attacks in the past, which has already been presented this time, Mr. Tharoor said that he does not think there are many critics of the attack in India.
“Now, as you know, Pakistani claims that they have knocked on a couple of our aircraft. We will have to wait for any confirmation or denial from the Government of India … But as far as everything else is concerned, time is not for all those discussions. Whatever is the accountability, whatever, whatever, everyone needs to be in interest, it should be done, it should be done today.
Everything in a name?
On the emotional aspect named ‘Operation Sindoor’ – after vermilion worn by women in India as a symbol of marriage – Mr. Tharoor said, “It was reminiscent of the newly married girl that he was mourning her husband while he was on a honeymoon and was shot in front of her. It is a real emotional reminder of what it is.”
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