Tharoor warns Pakistan from US: ‘There will be a price to pay’ if Indians are killed

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, currently leading a multi-party parliamentary delegation to the US, has issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying any future attack on Indian citizens from across the border will invite a firm response. Speaking in New York during Operation Sindoor’s global outreach, Tharoor declared, “There will be a price to pay,” referring to the recent Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

Tharoor clarified that India’s retaliation—through Operation Sindoor—was precise and restrained, aimed solely at terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He emphasised that India was not interested in warfare but would no longer tolerate unchecked cross-border terrorism. “We didn’t start this. We replied. If they stop, we stop,” he said while asserting that India had reached a "new bottom line".

Addressing the Indian-American community and international observers, Tharoor recounted how India had exhausted peaceful methods over the years—dossiers, diplomatic pressure, and appeals to global forums—but Pakistan had shown no intent to dismantle its terror infrastructure. “From our point of view, this is it,” he said, adding that India has both the will and the means to respond with precision if provoked again.

Tharoor also made it clear that India harbours no territorial ambitions and desires peace to focus on economic progress. He highlighted that the recent strikes were not a step toward war, but a calculated message of deterrence. “We have a right to self-defence. We've exercised that right responsibly,” he said. Despite being an opposition leader, Tharoor said he had urged a firm response and was “pleased” with how the government executed it.

The parliamentary delegation includes leaders from BJP, Congress, TDP, JMM, Shiv Sena, and diplomats, aiming to clarify India’s stance and counter Pakistan’s narrative on the international stage. Their next stop is Guyana, with a return to the US scheduled for June 3.