Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation to the United States to highlight Pakistan’s role in terrorism, was put in the spot during a press conference at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York by none other than his son, Ishan Tharoor, who is a journalist with The Washington Post.
Ishan asked whether any country during the delegation’s visit had demanded proof of Pakistan’s involvement in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead. He also brought up Pakistan’s repeated denials of any connection to the incident.
Before responding, Tharoor acknowledged his son in a light-hearted manner, saying, “It shouldn’t be allowed. This is my son… I didn’t plant it, I promise you.”
“This guy does this to his dad,” he added.
“Ishan Tharoor of The Washington Post,” his son responded and went on to ask his question to the delegation leader.
#WATCH | Washington DC: On a question asked by his son about whether any country had asked the delegation for evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam attack and about Pakistan’s repeated denials of any role in the attack, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “I’m very glad… pic.twitter.com/RR0tcVOwpU
– years (@ani) June 5, 2025
India has convincing evidence
Tharoor, addressing the press, maintained that India would not have undertaken significant retaliatory measures without solid proof.
“I’m very glad you raised this… Very simply, no one had any doubt, and we were not asked for evidence. But the media have asked in two or three places. Let me say very clearly that India would not have done this without convincing evidence,” Tharoor said.
He clarified that during the delegation’s global outreach — which included visits to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil — no government had requested specific proof of Pakistan’s involvement.
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Tharoor cites three key reasons
Responding to Ishan’s follow-up question, Tharoor outlined three reasons for India’s confidence in Pakistan’s culpability.
“The first is that we’ve had a 37-year pattern of repeated terror attacks from Pakistan, accompanied by repeated denials,” he said, drawing attention to Islamabad’s consistent record of denial despite evidence.
Tharoor also cited Pakistan’s role in shielding high-profile terrorists. “Americans haven’t forgotten that Pakistan didn’t know, allegedly, where Osama bin Laden was until he was found in a Pakistani safe house right next to an army camp in a cantonment city. That’s Pakistan,” he added.
He further referred to the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008. “Mumbai attacks — they denied having anything to do with it… So we know what Pakistan’s all about,” he remarked.
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Shashi Tharoor emphasised that Pakistan often denies responsibility “until they’re actually caught with red hands.”
The delegation also met US Vice President JD Vance during the visit, discussing India-US relations and the issue of cross-border terrorism.
