The Congress MP was speaking at an interaction session at the National Press Club in the US on Wednesday when he made the remarks.
New Delhi: Congress MP and Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, has said that the United States now clearly understands India’s firm stance on not engaging in dialogue with Pakistan under the threat of violence. Speaking at an interaction session at the National Press Club in the US on Wednesday, Tharoor emphasized that India is open to dialogue, but not under coercion or aggression.
Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation to the US to brief stakeholders on Operation Sindoor, dismissed claims that American trade diplomacy played a key role in de-escalating recent tensions between India and Pakistan. “There will be no talks with a gun pointed at our head,” he stated, adding that while India is willing to talk in any language Pakistan speaks, it will not do so under threat.
Using a vivid analogy, Tharoor compared Pakistan’s actions to a neighbor unleashing dangerous dogs on your children, then requesting a friendly chat. “You’re not going to talk to people who are pointing guns at your temples. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
Reiterating India’s long-standing position, Tharoor noted that any engagement with Pakistan must be bilateral and that India will not consider talks on issues like trade or water sharing while Pakistan supports cross-border terrorism. He stressed that the delegation’s visit to the US was not about negotiating any outcomes, but about clarifying India’s position and ensuring international understanding.
“We’re not asking them to do anything other than understand our point of view and express solidarity if this happens again,” he said, adding that the purpose of the visit is to respond to any questions or misconceptions key stakeholders may have.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, India’s military retaliation following the Pahalgam terror attack, Tharoor acknowledged that while the destroyed terror camps could be rebuilt, India’s response sent a clear message. “If they think they can keep doing this to us, they’ve got another thing coming. If they hit us, we will hit back.”
Tharoor also pushed back against claims by former US President Donald Trump that trade talks had helped prevent war between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. He said there was no mention of trade in any of the communications between Indian and foreign officials during the recent flare-up. He cited conversations between Indian leaders and counterparts from the US, France, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, asserting that India consistently communicated it was retaliating for terrorism, not escalating conflict.
He reiterated that India had no interest in prolonging hostilities and was clear that it would cease retaliation if Pakistan did the same. “We didn’t need persuading to stop. That message was conveyed regularly to everyone who called,” Tharoor said, referring to the ceasefire reached on May 10 after four days of military tension.
The Congress MP concluded by saying India’s actions were in self-defence and were in line with international norms. He stressed that India remains firm in its policy of responding decisively to terrorism while being open to dialogue in peaceful conditions.
