How Tharoor hit Trump, Rahul Gandhi with a single stone on ceasefire

India Today

a day ago

Diplomacy is like the proverbial tip of the iceberg. What is visible to the public is just 10% of what takes place behind closed doors. And US President Donald Trump, with his bull-in-a-China-shop approach, is a diplomat's nightmare. There is a big reason why the Indian government hasn't vociferously junked Trump's claims of having mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the mini-war in May. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor made that public, albeit with the skills of a former diplomat that he is.advertisementUnlike most American presidents, Trump has been big on claims and short on action. This has led to him being mocked as Taco -- Trump always chickens out. However, the flying taco leaves an imprint wherever it lands.His claim of having brokered a ceasefire was lapped up by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who used it to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Trump made one gesture from there (the US), picked up the call and said 'Modiji, what are you doing? Narender surrender'. And Modiji said 'yes sir' and followed Trump's instructions," Rahul said in Bhopal on June 4.It was less than a month ago that India launched Operation Sindoor to target terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). The May 7 strike saw Pakistan attack military and civilian areas in India with missiles and swarm of drones. India retaliated by targeting military infra deep inside Pakistan and left its forces crippled.advertisementOn May 10, as Trump made a surprise announcement on Truth Social -- the US had mediated a ceasefire between the two sides.India announced that the pause to the war came about after the Pakistani DGMO called up his Indian counterpart, raising the white flag.However, Rahul Gandhi and his Congress have chosen to go with Trump, who also spoke about trade in the same breath.India has repeatedly, but prudently, stated that Trump didn't play any role in the ceasefire and that the pause came about with discussions between the two warring parties.The question is, why hasn't India vociferously rejected Trump's claims?The short answer is -- diplomacy happens behind closed doors and isn't a shouting match.Bilateral ties are bigger than a property dealer-turned-politician's ego. Similarly, messaging for the nation, in which Shashi Tharoor is currently engaged, is not about the ego-massaging of a political aspirant.Tharoor is leading a multi-party team to the US to put forth India's stance on Operation Sindoor and the compulsion that forced it to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan."Do you think India has been firm enough to the constant mediation claim by Trump? It is the same question that your party continues to ask back home," Tharoor was asked in the US.advertisement"Just yesterday, the leader of your party, Rahul Gandhi, said Modi surrendered to President Trump," the person asking made the backdrop clear.Starting with a loud laugh, Tharoor strongly reiterated India's stand -- India didn't ask anyone for mediation."All I can say is that I have enormous respect for the American Presidency and the American President. All we can say for ourselves is that we have never particularly wanted to ask anyone to mediate," Tharoor emphasised.Tharoor, who has seen all shades of global diplomacy during his stint in the United Nations, including as the Under-Secretary-General of the UN, made clear India had clear priorities and didn't want to "jeopardise" ongoing India-US talks by countering Trump on a "matter of detail"."We have enormous respect for the US, and we have a much more important, valuable, and strategic partnership with Washington that we would not want to jeopardize over a matter of detail. We are cooperating in a number of areas and are interested in enhancing all of that. Small matters can be set aside so we can focus on tomorrow," said Tharoor.This is amid ongoing India-US talks, where a trade deal could be finalised between the two countries soon. advertisementThe former diplomat killed two birds with one stone by calling Trump's ceasefire claims, and thereby Rahul Gandhi's political rhetoric, by trashing the issue as "small matter".Like Asaduddin Owaisi, who has been ferocious against Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack and used terms unlike anyone else to expose it, the suave Tharoor performed his national duty even as his own party tried to pull him down.The Congress and Rahul Gandhi have been an exception in attacking the government at a time when the entire country stood united and bipartisan teams are representing India.While Tharoor diplomatically sidestepped the political question, his colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora, addressed it."As far as the political question is concerned, I would like to extend my admiration for Dr Tharoor, whom I have known for a long time. He always puts country before party," said Deora, who is among the leaders in Rahul Gandhi's inner circle to have moved out of the Congress.What Tharoor explained was a growing India's treading the line in not antagonising Trump, for Trump is like Jaykant Shikre of Singham, the 211.advertisement"Kuchh bhi karne ka, Jaykant Shikre ke ego nahi hurt karne ka," is his pet statement in the movie.Trump is the Jaykant Shikre in the White House -- a mass of bloated ego -- and India, like Tharoor outlined, doesn't believe in a diplomatic hack job.There is no denying that the government is answerable, and will be held accountable, but this might not be the right time. It isn't the time to bolster voices against the country that might be amped up by forces inimical to India's interests. This is the time to speak up in one voice as a nation. And Shashi Tharoor is one of the millions of such voices, stating the fact.Tune InMust Watch