Subhechcha Ganguly 
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has voiced strong support for India’s recent airstrikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), describing them as a “sensibly calibrated response” to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
In an interview with an Australian news outlet, Tharoor said the strikes were justified and necessary, as they targeted militants believed to be supported and directed by the Pakistani establishment. “Yet again, Pakistan-based terrorists—almost certainly armed, financed, and guided from across the border—entered our country and killed innocent civilians,” he said.
The senior Congress leader emphasized that India’s military action demonstrated restraint and precision, avoiding civilian casualties while making it clear that terrorism will not go unanswered. “India’s response showed that there is a price to be paid for this kind of conduct. It was carefully calibrated—strikes were conducted at night on known terrorist facilities to minimize collateral damage,” Tharoor explained.
Tharoor underlined that the strikes were not an escalation but a firm message. “The Indian armed forces have sent a clear signal: we will respond to terrorism, but we are not seeking a prolonged conflict,” he said.
He also criticized the Pakistani military, accusing it of benefitting from instability. “The Pakistani military is deeply unpopular at home. Provoking conflict allows them to position themselves as protectors of the nation. They are the only ones who gain from such barbaric attacks, and we have no doubt about their complicity,” he stated.
Earlier, Tharoor took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to commend the Indian government’s actions and express solidarity with the armed forces. He noted that India had responded in a way that balanced firmness with restraint, avoiding the risk of further escalation.
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam has drawn widespread outrage and reignited focus on cross-border terrorism, prompting swift military and political responses from New Delhi.
