Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday, June 19, took a jibe at Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir, following reports of his lunch meeting with United States President Donald Trump at the White House.
Tharoor expressed hope that Munir received “food for thought” during the meeting, as per News18.
Tharoor referred to reports suggesting that General Munir had proposed Trump’s name for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was followed by the White House lunch invitation. “I haven’t seen the outcome of the meeting,” Tharoor told reporters.
“According to the White House, this general had said the president should get the Nobel Peace Prize, and then he was rewarded with a lunch. I hope the food was good and he has also got some food for thought in the process,” he said.
Hope US reminds Pak of terrorism consequences
Tharoor raised broader concerns regarding US-Pakistan ties and the issue of terrorism. The Congress leader emphasised the need for the United States to remind Pakistan of its responsibility in curbing terrorism.
Read more: PM Modi to Trump: India never discussed trade or mediation during Operation Sindoor
“I hope the Americans will remind Pakistan of the great importance of not supporting terrorism, of not enabling, equipping, financing and dispatching terrorists to our country,” he said.
Tharoor also referenced the 9/11 attacks, stating, “It is our hope that everyone in the US government has not forgotten the Osama bin Laden episode.”
Modi-Trump call and mediation claims
Addressing the 35-minute phone conversation between Trump and PM Modi, Tharoor said, “If there was any pressure from Trump, it would have only been on Pakistan. We welcome any pressure the US may have (put) on Pakistan, but we did not ask for it. We did not request anyone’s mediation,” he said.
On comparisons between the Indian parliamentary delegation meeting US Vice President JD Vance and Munir meeting Trump, Tharoor clarified, “There’s absolutely no doubt our prime minister had already met the president. Regarding the parliamentary delegation to be met by the vice president, it is significant because in some countries, the parliamentary delegation meets with parliamentarians,” he said.
Read more: Donald Trump’s meeting with Pakistan’s Asim Munir: Nobel peace prize hopes and strategic realities
“Mediation implies equivalence. There is no equivalence between terrorists and their victims,” he added, reinforcing India’s zero tolerance stance on terrorism, reiterating PM Modi’s message to Trump.
Tharoor led a multi-party delegation, including members from the BJP, LJP, TDP and Shiv Sena, to various global capitals to reiterate India’s position on Pakistan-sponsored cross border terrorism.
