New Delhi: Congress MP and diplomat Shashi Tharoor addressed the Panama assembly President Dana Castaneda and some select parliamentarians in Panama on Tuesday. Leading the all-party delegation on Operation Sindoor, he highlighted India’s united stance on combating cross border terrorism despite the prevailing political differences among the top leaders. Tharoor also stressed on the nation’s right to self-defence in the face of inaction by Pakistan against terrorists.
Tharoor explained the context of Operation Sindoor, as a retaliation which was launched by India on May 7 in response to the terrorist attacks carried out in Pahalgam on April 22. The attack which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, was blamed on terror outfits that allegedly operated from Pakistan.
“When nothing was clearly being done, two weeks later, on the 7th of May, we attacked the known headquarters of terrorist bases inside Pakistan. We had no interest in starting a war, but a terrorist act must not go unpunished,” Tharoor said, addressing lawmakers in Panama City.
The operation was described as “focused and non-escalatory”, involving precision strikes on terror outfits associated with Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, including locations deep into Pakistan’s Punjab province.
What has lent significant weight to this diplomatic mission was the diverse political composition of the delegation. Alongside Tharoor, various other members from the Indian political fraternity were present during the interaction. Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Tejasvi Surya and Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Gants Harish Madhur Balayogi (TDP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), and former Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Sandhu were the others who were in the delegation.
“We all come from different political backgrounds and different parts of India, but we are united in national purpose,” Tharoor remarked, emphasizing India’s non-partisan stand in the global campaign against terrorism.
Message to the world
India’s Operation Sindoor set a clear message that the country has enough military preparedness and would not take any act of cross border terrorism lightly. It also stressed on the important fact that there is a need for a global effort to build international consensus to root out terrorism.
Tharoor also made it clear in his address that India’s tolerance has limits.
Cross border strikes and a strong warning
Following a meeting with the Indian delegation, Dana Castaneda, President of the Panama Assembly, extended her country’s support to India’s campaign for peace.
“Panama wants to stand with India in this campaign for peace. We hope that we can defeat terrorism together,” Castaneda told news agency ANI. “We have spoken about these issues in detail, and this will help us understand each other better in India’s fight against terrorism.”
Called on the President of the National Assembly of Panama, Dana Castañeda, who was accompanied by senior members of Parliament Edwin Vergara and Julio de la Guardia (the latter a former Ambassador to India).explained our mission to her and received strong assurances of… pic.twitter.com/mAP0G5vuSp
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 27, 2025
Historical pain and continued vigilance
Tharoor also underlined the historical context of Pakistan sponsored terrorism since 1989, highlighting that a continued periodic attack began in 1989 and continues till date.
Tharoor also underlined the historical context of Pakistan sponsored terrorism since 1989, highlighting that a continued periodic attack began in 1989 and continues till date.
“They [Pakistan] have chosen repeatedly to attack us because they believe they want territory that they do not control — which we control. It is part of the sovereign borders of the United India, and we are not going to give it to them, even if we have to pay the price that we have repeatedly paid,” Tharoor said emphatically.
Operation Sindoor has been considered as a watershed moment in India’s diplomatic mission as the country grapples with cross border terrorism. The Panama leg of this outreach has given more impetus to this mission.
