As India launched a powerful and precise military operation in retaliation for the brutal Pahalgam terror attack, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed strong support for the government and the armed forces, declaring, “We have made our point.” The senior parliamentarian from Thiruvananthapuram called the strikes a necessary act of self-defence, executed with the kind of precision and restraint that avoids escalating the crisis further.

“I’m immensely proud today,” Tharoor remarked, adding that Operation Sindoor was exactly the kind of response he had advocated just days earlier — a targeted, intelligent campaign against terrorist infrastructure. “This was not about vengeance without vision. These were calibrated, strategic strikes designed to dismantle the roots of terror. We hit hard, we hit smart — just as I wrote last week,” he said.

In a recent opinion piece titled "Hit Hard, Hit Smart," published in The Indian Express, Tharoor had urged the Indian government to strike a delicate balance — to act decisively against terror without provoking an uncontrollable spiral of violence. “India must not allow its grief to morph into blind rage,” he had cautioned. “Our retaliation must speak the language of strength, but not recklessness.”

Reflecting on the nation’s demand for justice after 26 innocent lives were lost in the Pahalgam massacre, Tharoor said a clear message had been delivered: “Terrorism comes with a cost. Those who orchestrate such acts must know the consequences will be grave — and escalate with each provocation.”

Responding to criticism about intelligence failures, Tharoor emphasized realism over idealism. “No country, not even Israel — widely regarded as having the world’s best intelligence agencies — can claim immunity to surprise attacks. What matters is how we respond and recover,” he explained. He added that the time to demand accountability for lapses would come, but the priority now is to navigate the immediate crisis with unity and clarity.

Tharoor also didn’t shy away from responding sharply to provocative remarks from across the border. When Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari threatened bloodshed in response to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Tharoor delivered a scathing rebuke: “Pakistan must realize that Indian lives cannot be taken without consequence. We do not seek conflict — but if one is forced upon us, the cost will be heavier on their side.”

Operation Sindoor, launched at 1:44 am, marks India’s first tri-services offensive since the 1971 war. The operation struck nine high-value terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The codename pays tribute to the widows of the Pahalgam victims — a symbolic gesture that underscores the emotional gravity behind India’s military resolve.

Tharoor’s remarks capture a rare moment of political consensus, as leaders across the spectrum back India’s decisive stance — one that is firm, focused, and, above all, deeply rooted in national self-respect.