Washington– India received overwhelming support and solidarity from U.S. lawmakers in its fight against terrorism, according to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading a multi-party Indian parliamentary delegation visiting Washington.
Speaking at a press conference, Tharoor said, “We didn’t encounter a single skeptical or negative voice. On the contrary, the responses were uniformly positive. There was total support and complete understanding of India’s right to defend itself against terrorism.”
The delegation met with several key members of Congress, including the India Caucus, members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the chairs of the South Asia and East Asia subcommittees, and a group of six senators—five from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and one from the Intelligence Committee.
The meetings were part of the delegation’s mission to promote zero tolerance for terrorism and to explain the rationale behind India’s recent Operation Sindoor. Lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties expressed strong support.
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, co-chair of the India Caucus, posted on X, “We discussed the importance of strengthening U.S.-India counterterrorism cooperation and dismantling the terrorist groups responsible for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam,” which claimed 26 lives. The Resistance Front, linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Senator Dave McCormick, a Republican and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, highlighted the shared values between the U.S. and India. “We discussed combating terrorism, pushing back against authoritarian regimes, and deepening our economic ties to build a free and democratic future,” he wrote on social media.
Representative Gregory Meeks, ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, welcomed Tharoor in his capacity as Chair of India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. “My colleagues and I expressed condolences for the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to the U.S.-India partnership,” he posted.
Tharoor said the delegation left Capitol Hill “very pleased with the quality of the conversations and the level of engagement.” Prior to their U.S. visit, the delegation had toured Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, where they also received strong expressions of solidarity.
Across all the countries visited, Tharoor noted, leaders not only voiced support against terrorism but also showed interest in strengthening economic cooperation, trade, and investment. Delegation member Shashank Mani Tripathi and others held separate meetings focused on economic collaboration.
“There was a fairly bipartisan consensus on Capitol Hill that as two of the world’s largest and most vibrant democracies, India and the United States have much to offer together,” Tharoor said. He emphasized that while counterterrorism remains a key issue, economic cooperation and the long-term defense of democratic values are central to the bilateral relationship.
Tharoor also addressed reporters at the National Press Club and participated in a meeting with the Indian diaspora, urging community members to engage with their representatives in Congress. “They listen to you. They respect you. You’re high achievers who can make a real impact. We’re proud of you,” he said.
The Indian delegation includes representatives from across the political spectrum: Shambhavi Choudhary (Lok Janshakti Party – Ram Vilas), Sarfaraz Ahmad (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), Milind Murli Deora (Shiv Sena), Bhubaneswar Kalita and Tejasvi Surya (BJP), and G.M. Harish Balayogi (Telugu Desam Party, an NDA partner). (Source: IANS)
