“That shouldn't be allowed” says Shashi Tharoor as his son asks him a question

New Delhi (India) June 6: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had an unexpected conversation with his own son during India's diplomatic mission in Washington DC, after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. It was a heartwarming and amusing experience.

Ishan Tharoor stood up to ask a question during a news conference held at the Council of Foreign Relations in New York.

Shashi Tharoor smiled as Ishaan took the microphone and asked for him to raise it correctly before answering. 

Shashi Tharoor said, “You have to stand up. That shouldn't be allowed. This is my son,"

The son said, "Ishan Tharoor of the Washington Post," with a straight face.

Ishan Tharoor questioned if any nation had asked his father's delegation for proof of Pakistan's role in the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam which took away the lives of 26 people. He also questioned Pakistan's continuous denials that it was responsible for the attack. Shashi Tharoor replied to him by saying that if there had not been solid proof against Pakistan, India would not have replied as it did.

He said, “I'm very glad you raised this. I didn't plant it, I promise you”

“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.”

The Congress MP also reminded the American people that Osama Bin Laden was found in a safe house in Pakistan close to an Army camp. He also highlighted that India has a 37-year pattern of continuous terrorist attacks from Pakistan.

He said, “But there were three particular reasons I want to draw your attention to all of you. The first is that we've had a 37-year pattern of repeated terror attacks from Pakistan, accompanied by repeated denials. I mean, 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. Mumbai attacks - they denied having anything to do with it...So we know what Pakistan's all about. They will dispatch terrorists, they will deny they did so until they're actually caught with red hands.”

Tharoor also rejected the possibility of US mediation between Pakistan and India. The United States has claimed responsibility for mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan multiple times. President Donald Trump has said that he used trade and tariff threats to persuade the two nuclear-armed countries. However, India has repeatedly denied the claim.

Aadrika Tayal