Operation Sindoor: Dr. Shashi Tharoor Defends India’s Stance Amid Escalating Tensions with Pakistan
New Delhi | May 2025 — In the wake of mounting tensions between India and Pakistan, senior Congress leader and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, offered a measured yet firm defense of India’s recent actions in response to a terror attack in Kashmir. Speaking in a televised interview, Dr. Tharoor emphasized India’s policy of restraint and targeted retaliation under the codename Operation Sindoor, while holding Pakistan accountable for decades of cross-border terrorism.
No Desire for War, Only Justice
Dr. Tharoor was unequivocal: “India has no interest in a full-scale war.” He reiterated that India's objective was not aggression, but a proportional response to a terrorist outrage in Pulwama, where Indian civilians—most notably a newlywed husband—were killed. Operation Sindoor, he explained, was a carefully calibrated strike on known terrorist headquarters in Pakistan, conducted at night to avoid civilian casualties and deliberately avoiding any Pakistani government or military targets.
Operation Sindoor: Symbolism in a Name
According to Dr. Tharoor, the operation’s name carries profound cultural and emotional weight. “Sindoor” is a traditional red mark worn by married Hindu women. Its symbolic use in the operation's name was a tribute to the widows created by the Pulwama attack, especially one haunting image of a bride weeping over her slain husband. “The sindoor had been wiped off by terrorists,” Tharoor said, adding that the color of sindoor resembles blood—underscoring the gravity of the attack.
Targeting Terror, Not Civilians
Responding to international concerns about possible civilian deaths, including children and damage to a mosque, Tharoor was firm. “These were known terror hubs—Jeshe-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters—recognized globally and sanctioned by the United Nations.” He added that if any civilians were present, they were either related to terrorists or trainees themselves. He clarified India had no intent to harm innocents, stating that “India would prefer dismantling terror infrastructure without any human loss.”
The Pakistan Dilemma: Denial and Provocation
Tharoor denounced Pakistan’s history of “strategic denial,” pointing to the 2008 Mumbai attacks and Osama bin Laden’s residence near a Pakistani military base. “Pakistan has been exporting terror and denying responsibility. They have failed to bleed India by a thousand cuts for three decades and will fail for three more,” he asserted.
When asked about evidence, he referred to intelligence intercepts, circumstantial evidence, and internationally recognized terror listings, rebuffing Pakistan’s demand for "proof" as disingenuous.
International Mediation: India’s Red Line
As calls grow for diplomatic intervention, Tharoor dismissed international mediation as counterproductive if terrorism is used as leverage. “We won’t reward terrorists by letting them provoke negotiations,” he said. Previous peace efforts, including back-channel talks under Manmohan Singh and joint investigations with Pakistani agencies, were sabotaged by further terror attacks.
India, he clarified, will not engage diplomatically while under threat. He urged international actors to press Pakistan to halt its provocations rather than pressuring India for restraint—restraint, he says, India has already shown.
No First Use Policy: Nuclear Doctrine Remains Firm
On the question of nuclear escalation, Dr. Tharoor reiterated India’s “No First Use” nuclear policy, contrasting it with Pakistan’s ambiguous stance. “India has never threatened nuclear use. Pakistan, on the other hand, implies willingness,” he said, warning of the risks of miscalculation.
Pakistan’s Miscalculations and China’s Role
Tharoor pointed out that China, Pakistan’s closest ally, has significant leverage—controlling 30% of Pakistan’s debt and major economic corridors. China has called for peace, and Tharoor hopes that message is being conveyed clearly in Islamabad. If not, he warned, the region may face unwanted escalation.
Political Unity in India
Ending the interview, Dr. Tharoor highlighted bipartisan consensus on the issue. “In moments of national crisis, we stand with the government and our armed forces. Political differences can wait. Right now, India is united.”
Conclusion: Dr. Shashi Tharoor’s statements reflect India’s evolving doctrine of measured military deterrence, emotional symbolism, and political clarity. While firmly rejecting war, India has made it clear that cross-border terrorism will now provoke direct and decisive consequences. Operation Sindoor may mark a new chapter in India’s counterterrorism playbook—one with national unity, international scrutiny, and strategic resolve.
On May 13, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to the Adampur Air Force Station in Punjab, effectively countering Pakistan's claims that its airstrikes had destroyed India's S-400 missile defense system stationed there. Standing before an intact S-400 system and a MiG-29 fighter jet, Modi's appearance served as a powerful visual rebuttal to Pakistan's assertions. (@EconomicTimes, The Economic Times)
This visit followed India's Operation Sindoor, launched in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. The operation targeted terror camps and military airbases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Despite Pakistan's claims of destroying the S-400 system during retaliatory strikes, India's display of the undamaged system at Adampur undermined these assertions. (Hindustan Times)
In his address at the airbase, Modi praised the Indian armed forces for dismantling terrorist camps and countering Pakistan's aggression, stating that India had destroyed not just terrorist camps but also Pakistan's audacity. (The Times of India)
The visit also had economic repercussions. Following Modi's address, shares of China's Avic Chengdu Aircraft, the manufacturer of J-10 fighter jets used by Pakistan, fell by up to 9.31% on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. This decline was attributed to the perceived ineffectiveness of the Chinese-made jets against India's defense systems. (mint, The New Arab)
India's S-400 system, known domestically as "Sudarshan Chakra," has been a significant addition to its defense capabilities. Acquired from Russia, the system can engage multiple targets simultaneously and has been deployed in strategic locations, including Punjab, to counter threats from neighboring countries. (Wikipedia, The Economic Times)
Modi's visit to Adampur not only served to debunk misinformation but also reinforced India's commitment to national security and its readiness to counter any threats.(@EconomicTimes)
For a visual account of PM Modi's visit and his address at the Adampur Air Force Station, you can watch the following video:
PM Modi At Adampur Airbase: Debunks Pakistan's Missile Attack Claims | Op Sindoor | The Right Stand

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