‘100 More Operation Sindoors If Needed': India's All-Party Delegation Delivers Blunt Message To US Lawmakers On Pak-backed Terrorism
Washington D.C./New Delhi: In a rare show of cross-party unity abroad, an Indian all-party parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has set the diplomatic stage on fire during its US visit – defending India's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent civilians and directly accusing Pakistan of being a repeat offender in using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.
Under the banner of Operation Sindoor, the trip is fast turning into one of the most forceful Indian diplomatic offensives in recent years.
Tharoor, who called the meeting with US Vice President JD Vance 'excellent', said that the American vice president not only supported India's position on the Pahalgam terror attack but also acknowledged India's 'right to respond'.
'We had a wonderful meeting with Vice President Vance. He was warm and welcoming, had warm memories of his visit to India, totally supportive of our stand on Pahalgam and the aftermath and accepting our right to respond as we did… Very positive vibes throughout the meeting,' he posted on X (formerly Twitter) after the interaction.
Excellent meeting with Vice President @JDVance today in Washington D.C. with our delegation. We had comprehensive discussions covering a wide array of critical issues, from counter-terrorism efforts to enhancing technological cooperation. A truly constructive & productive… pic.twitter.com/mAJtqeqiGS — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 5, 2025
Yesterday, a wonderfully positive meeting with the #IndiaCaucus leadership.
- @RepAndyBarr, co-vice-Chair of India Caucus (Republican)
- @RepMcCormick, co-Chair of India Caucus (Republican)
- @RepRoKhanna, co-Chair of India Caucus (Democrat)
- RepMarkVeasey, co-vice-Chair of… pic.twitter.com/kmLnwYbXKv — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 5, 2025
VIDEO | Washington DC: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) responds to a question from Ishaan Tharoor, on Pakistan denying involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack. Here's what he said
"No one had any doubt. We were not asked for evidence, but the media has asked this… pic.twitter.com/D1yQAixxMu — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 5, 2025
#WATCH | Washington DC: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "...We hit terror bases. There are no terror bases in India to hit. There are no terrorist organisations in India listed in the UN or the State Department anywhere else. So, what do you hit? You hit civilians, innocent… pic.twitter.com/84vrn6WMYB — ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2025
The discussions, which took place behind closed doors in Washington D.C., also covered strategic cooperation in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and counter-terrorism. As the Indian Embassy highlighted, 'The conversation focused on strengthening the India-US partnership including cooperation in counter-terrorism domain.'
The All Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Dr. @ShashiTharoor called on Vice President JD Vance @VP this morning. The conversation focused on strengthening the India - US partnership including cooperation in counter-terrorism domain. pic.twitter.com/No9qLbPr3I — India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 5, 2025
The All Party Delegation led by Dr. @ShashiTharoor interacted with members of various think tanks at the Embassy today. The conversation focused on India's fight against terrorism and the multi-faceted partnership
Watch the interaction here https://t.co/cSERSCcRed — India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 5, 2025
But it was not only Tharoor making waves in Washington. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, never known to mince words, upped the ante by publicly calling Pakistan a 'habitual offender' and declaring that Operation Sindoor would be the wake-up call Islamabad desperately needed.
'There is no delusion that Operation Sindoor will teach Pakistan a lesson for good because Pakistan is a habitual offender,' he declared bluntly, reminding audiences that Pakistan's leadership has repeatedly admitted to waging a proxy war against India.
Surya went further, drawing in the United States directly into the equation, claiming India's fight is not just national but global.
'India's fight against terror is not just India's fight alone. We are fighting the battle for the entire world… In the very recent past, 5 Pak nationals in the US have orchestrated attacks on US soil,' he said.
Had an excellent meeting with US Vice President @JDVance as part of our all-party delegation visit to Washington DC
He was categorical in backing India's right to defend itself against terrorism and expressed deep sympathy for the victims of the Pahalgam attack. Having been in… pic.twitter.com/LWRptnFWrr — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) June 5, 2025
At the @IndiaInUSA press briefing in Washington DC, reflected on two contrasting 9/11s. India's moment of 9/11 was Swami Vivekananda's 1893 call for harmony in Chicago. Pakistan's 9/11 was the 2001 New York terror attacks linked to its soil.
India champions the idea of… pic.twitter.com/veIvLTQ6qX — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) June 5, 2025
Pakistan's global reputation is marred by notorious figures, all of whom have been implicated in orchestrating terror worldwide. In stark contrast, India boasts a legacy of individuals like who have made significant contributions to global development and peace.
This… pic.twitter.com/s3YsiyGXc6 — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) June 5, 2025
Spoke at an interaction with the Indian Diaspora in Washington DC earlier today. India's strength lies in its diversity.The Pahalgam attack was a deliberate attempt by Pakistan to disrupt our social harmony and tear at the fabric of our unity.
The All-Party Delegation, sent by… pic.twitter.com/ZUFSHoQfZI — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) June 5, 2025
Backing the sentiment, BJP MP Shashank Mani delivered a striking line aimed at Pakistan-backed terror groups.
'Terrorists are really 'Buzdil' (coward)… if we can get them to the place where they know there is a price to pay, over a period of time, it (terrorism) will come down,' he said.
Our Washington DC meetings started with a meeting with the India Caucus in the Congress. This consisted of Rich McCormick, Congressman from Georgia, Ro Khanna, Congressman from California, Andy Barr, Congressman from Kentucky, and Marc Veasey, Congressman from Texas. Each… pic.twitter.com/PleSQx3ztD — Shashank Mani (@shashankmanibjp) June 5, 2025
Our second meeting was hosted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Leadership, with Chairman Rep. Brian Mast, a congressman from Florida which turned out to be a full discussion on Sindoor, but also the context of this operation given the shifting geopolitical landscape… pic.twitter.com/RORhINp6Jn — Shashank Mani (@shashankmanibjp) June 5, 2025
It was a pleasure to call on Rep. Lisa McClain, the highest-ranking woman in the Congress. Lisa chairs the powerful house GOP Conference as a congresswoman from Michigan. A person with deep interest in growing the business and geopolitical cooperation between the two nations, she… pic.twitter.com/lmjqawmGSz — Shashank Mani (@shashankmanibjp) June 5, 2025
This impressive room hosted our first meeting with Senators who were also waiting for a vote on the floor of the house. We met with Senator James Risch, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Dave McCormick and Senator Jacky Rosen, Vice Chairman of the… pic.twitter.com/70ptRHcfmf — Shashank Mani (@shashankmanibjp) June 5, 2025
It was a pleasure to interact with the media at a press conference hosted at the Indian embassy in Washington DC. Dr Shashi Tharoor and other members of the delegation took a wide range of questions from the press. This included not just specifics of Operation Sindoor, but also… pic.twitter.com/bNgxWSBK7m — Shashank Mani (@shashankmanibjp) June 5, 2025
When Dhoti comes to rescue.
Our visit to the Hill would not be complete without a photo in front of the Capitol Hill. As some of you would have seen that my Dhoti attire had evoked curiosity in this visit, but today the other delegates were envious as this was the best attire… pic.twitter.com/YemCnN5NpR — Shashank Mani (@shashankmanibjp) June 5, 2025
Our public engagement at the Willard hotel was an outstanding success. With over 350 people showing up for the event, it gave us an opportunity to speak with the Indian Diaspora, which had featured in every meeting this morning on the Hill. As others had addressed Operation… pic.twitter.com/XzEy44jdk0 — Shashank Mani (@shashankmanibjp) June 5, 2025
Earlier, addressing the Indian diaspora in D.C., Surya emphatically separated India's character from that of its hostile neighbour.
'No sane person, no reasonable thinking policymaker anywhere in the world will ever draw an equivalence between India and Pakistan… India does not seek war. But if you attack us, we are ready to do 100 Operation Sindoors,' he said.
The delegation, comprising MPs from the Congress, the BJP, the Shiv Sena, the LJP, the JMM and the TDP, landed in the United States after concluding a similar mission in Brazil. Their focus was to convey the details and rationale behind Operation Sindoor, launched by India on the intervening night of May 6-7 to serve justice to the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
India's armed response targeted terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, reportedly killing over 100 terrorists. The operation culminated in a ceasefire agreement on May 10 after Indian forces neutralised Pakistan's attempts at escalation by striking its airbases.
(With ANI inputs)
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