Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) that the difficulty in engaging with Pakistan is not linguistic, but lies in the lack of a shared commitment to peace and decency. Tharoor emphasized that India is open to dialogue if Islamabad takes meaningful steps to dismantle the terrorism infrastructure operating openly within its borders.

Speaking from Brazil, where he is leading an all-party parliamentary delegation, Tharoor noted that his team had effectively communicated India’s stance on terrorism to Latin American nations, some of which may have previously misunderstood India’s position.

“This is what we keep telling our interlocutors—if Pakistan is truly innocent as it claims, why do it continue to provide safe haven to terrorists? Why are they able to live freely, run training camps, radicalize others, and arm themselves within Pakistani territory?” Tharoor questioned. He reiterated that the real issue isn’t language—India could converse in Hindustani, Punjabi, or English—but rather a fundamental difference in values.

“If Pakistan dismantles the visible infrastructure of terrorism within its borders, then we can talk. Until then, the harassment and subversion will continue. Their strategy seems to be to weaken India through a 'death by a thousand cuts,' but that’s not going to work,” Tharoor asserted.

When asked if Brazil, the host of the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, might release a statement supporting India against terrorism, Tharoor responded that BRICS has a broader agenda. “I can’t say whether they will or won’t express solidarity—it’s not part of my brief, and I don’t know what’s in the draft they’re currently working on,” he said.

Tharoor clarified that India's primary focus is not multilateral forums but its bilateral relationship with Pakistan and the latter’s ongoing failure to dismantle terror networks.

Asked whether other nations have come to better understand India's position, Tharoor said his delegation has visited Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil so far, and the response has been overwhelmingly supportive. “In all four countries, our message has been received clearly. I don’t want to boast, but we’ve effectively clarified our position—even in countries like Colombia, which may have previously misunderstood us,” he said.

He referenced a recent incident in which Colombia withdrew a condolence message to Pakistan after India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. “Once we explained Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism, they understood and adjusted their stance accordingly.”

Tharoor said the main goal of the trip was to build global understanding and solidarity around India’s fight against terrorism—a goal he believes has been achieved. The delegation’s next stop is Washington, D.C.

Commenting on the U.S. leg of the trip, Tharoor said, “We expect it to be a challenging visit. We’ll be engaging with diverse audiences and are prepared to handle complex and perhaps tough questions. We’re ready to respond with clarity and conviction.”