WASHINGTON, D.C.: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, currently leading an all-party delegation in the U.S., addressed questions on Wednesday about India’s recent military strikes under Operation Sindoor and whether they also signaled a message to China.
Responding to a query on the sidelines of a press interaction, Tharoor acknowledged that Pakistan’s use of Chinese military equipment may have broader implications.
“The fact that Pakistan was using Chinese weapons, and that we were able to bypass some of their radar and the so-called Chinese ‘kill chain’—which we’ve all read about in newspapers—speaks volumes,” Tharoor said.
“I don’t think the Indian military was overly concerned about who else might be watching. The primary objective was to send a clear message to Pakistan—and I believe they got it. What happened on the night of May 9–10, and Pakistan’s decision to call off the conflict the very next morning, speaks for itself. That in itself might be a message China would do well to consider.”
Civilian Casualties and Pakistan’s Response
Tharoor strongly condemned Pakistan’s retaliatory targeting of civilian areas after India struck nine terror-linked sites, all associated with groups designated by the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee.
On the Pahalgam Terror Attack and Kashmir’s Progress
Speaking at the National Press Club, Tharoor reflected on the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, describing it as a “deliberate effort to derail progress.”
He highlighted the region’s recent tourism boom as a symbol of normalcy and growth:
“Last summer, Kashmir welcomed more tourists than Aspen, Colorado does annually. And in the first few months of this year alone, tourism doubled compared to the same period last year. Kashmiris were thriving—businesses were booming, incomes were rising.”
However, he added, the attack was a brutal reminder of ongoing threats:
“This was a group of innocent holidaymakers in a peaceful meadow, shot in cold blood after being asked their religion. It was barbaric.”
Operation Sindoor: A Strategic Response
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in direct response to the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives and left many injured. The operation targeted terrorist camps and infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Over 100 militants from Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were reported killed. Following Pakistani retaliation, India escalated by targeting military airbases. Hostilities ceased after both sides agreed to a truce on May 10.
