NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday commended the Indian Armed Forces for the strategic precision and restraint displayed during Operation Sindoor, which targeted cross-border terrorist camps following the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. He said the operation struck a balance between delivering a strong response and avoiding unnecessary escalation.
In a conversation with ANI, Tharoor expressed admiration for the mission’s execution and messaging, noting that the codename “Sindoor” itself carried a powerful symbolic weight.
“The operation was well-calibrated, well-calculated, and effectively executed. I am very impressed, from the naming of the operation to how it was presented to the world,” he said.
According to him, India had no choice but to respond firmly after terrorists entered the country and killed civilians.
Tharoor emphasised that the strikes carefully avoided civilian harm and were focused exclusively on terrorist infrastructure. “We had to respond. We could not allow Pakistani terrorists to believe that they can walk into our country, kill civilians, and get away with it. They had to be punished. At the same time, an indiscriminate action on our part could have needlessly provoked an escalation and cost us the sympathy of the world,” he said.
The Congress MP stressed that India deliberately chose to hit UN-designated terror hubs associated with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. He pointed out the strikes were carried out during night hours to minimise civilian presence in target areas. “The message is very clear; we are not anxious to strike at a time when there might be a lot of civilians wandering around the streets. We want to avoid collateral damage. We are not interested in killing innocent people, unlike terrorists themselves,” he added.
He further noted that India had consciously avoided attacking any Pakistani military or official targets, even though the terror groups are widely believed to be backed by the Pakistani establishment. “What was the reason for that? We are quite sure that these terrorists are systematically created, trained, financed and guided by the Pakistani military. We do not want to convey the impression that we [are] itching for a war. Our job is to teach them a lesson and wash our hands,” Tharoor said.
According to him, New Delhi has shown both restraint and maturity in its response, while Pakistan has retaliated with indiscriminate shelling across the border. “So now the world calls for restraint, we are not only restraining but also silent. We are not doing anything more. It is upon Pakistan not to overreact,” he said, adding that Indian forces have limited themselves to retaliating only where necessary.
“We are not putting our foot on the escalatory ladder. The ball is in Pakistan's court. But we don't have any terrorist bases in India. So they can only attack the army, civilians or the government of India. If they do that, we will give them absolute hell. Our people are fully alert and ready in the event of any Pakistani misadventure,” Tharoor warned.
On Wednesday, India carried out pinpoint strikes on nine terror-related locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, targeting leadership and infrastructure of terror groups believed to be involved in orchestrating attacks on Indian soil.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | #OperationSindoor | Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "The Operation was well-calculated, well-calibrated and effectively executed. I am extremely impressed with everything from the naming of the Operation to the manner in which it was… pic.twitter.com/Mli6YIJ3eb
— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025
In a conversation with ANI, Tharoor expressed admiration for the mission’s execution and messaging, noting that the codename “Sindoor” itself carried a powerful symbolic weight.
“The operation was well-calibrated, well-calculated, and effectively executed. I am very impressed, from the naming of the operation to how it was presented to the world,” he said.
According to him, India had no choice but to respond firmly after terrorists entered the country and killed civilians.
Tharoor emphasised that the strikes carefully avoided civilian harm and were focused exclusively on terrorist infrastructure. “We had to respond. We could not allow Pakistani terrorists to believe that they can walk into our country, kill civilians, and get away with it. They had to be punished. At the same time, an indiscriminate action on our part could have needlessly provoked an escalation and cost us the sympathy of the world,” he said.
The Congress MP stressed that India deliberately chose to hit UN-designated terror hubs associated with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. He pointed out the strikes were carried out during night hours to minimise civilian presence in target areas. “The message is very clear; we are not anxious to strike at a time when there might be a lot of civilians wandering around the streets. We want to avoid collateral damage. We are not interested in killing innocent people, unlike terrorists themselves,” he added.
He further noted that India had consciously avoided attacking any Pakistani military or official targets, even though the terror groups are widely believed to be backed by the Pakistani establishment. “What was the reason for that? We are quite sure that these terrorists are systematically created, trained, financed and guided by the Pakistani military. We do not want to convey the impression that we [are] itching for a war. Our job is to teach them a lesson and wash our hands,” Tharoor said.
According to him, New Delhi has shown both restraint and maturity in its response, while Pakistan has retaliated with indiscriminate shelling across the border. “So now the world calls for restraint, we are not only restraining but also silent. We are not doing anything more. It is upon Pakistan not to overreact,” he said, adding that Indian forces have limited themselves to retaliating only where necessary.
“We are not putting our foot on the escalatory ladder. The ball is in Pakistan's court. But we don't have any terrorist bases in India. So they can only attack the army, civilians or the government of India. If they do that, we will give them absolute hell. Our people are fully alert and ready in the event of any Pakistani misadventure,” Tharoor warned.
On Wednesday, India carried out pinpoint strikes on nine terror-related locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, targeting leadership and infrastructure of terror groups believed to be involved in orchestrating attacks on Indian soil.
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