Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), May 7, 2025 (ANI): Addressing media on Operation Sindoor, Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor said, “...Today, what the government has done is a fitting response...I do believe the government needed to do this...The nation must stand united at this time.”
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00:00This is exactly what I thought the government should do, and I'm glad they have done.
00:05The terrorists had to be taught that there was a price to be paid.
00:09And sadly, this kind of impunity that they believe they enjoy would have only emboldened them to continue.
00:16The government announced various things, action on visas, all sorts of things.
00:21But today, what they have done is a fitting response.
00:24It's been a calibrated, measured response.
00:27The government has taken very great care not to give the other side an opportunity to expand the conflict,
00:35in the sense that they have attacked only identified terror bases and launch pads.
00:42As you know from my earlier statements and writings, this is exactly what I thought the government should do,
00:48and I'm glad they have done, which is that there is no question in my mind that we had to give some sort of fitting response to the terror attack.
00:56The terrorists had to be taught that there was a price to be paid.
00:59And sadly, this kind of impunity that they believe they enjoy would have only emboldened them to continue with further attacks.
01:08So it was important and essential to give them some sort of response.
01:12That was a kinetic response.
01:14In addition to the diplomatic measures we all know about, the government announced various things, action on visas, all sorts of things.
01:22But today, what they have done is a fitting response.
01:26Secondly, it's been a calibrated, measured response.
01:29The government has taken very great care not to give the other side an opportunity to expand the conflict,
01:37in the sense that they have attacked only identified terror bases and launch pads.
01:44Every one of the places mentioned in this morning's briefing has been known to host terrorist organizations like the Lashkar-e-Toyba,
01:52the Hezbollah, the Jaish-e-Mohammed, and so on.
01:56So we've really got, I think, a very responsible, thought-through approach in attacking only these places.
02:05Attacking them at night also minimizes collateral damage for civilians.
02:09I think even the Pakistanis have only claimed three civilians have been killed in these raids,
02:13which shows that we were dismantling the terror infrastructure.
02:17We were not interested in killing individuals.
02:19The Pakistani denials lack all credibility.
02:23Let's not, let's remind the world that Pakistan also denied that the even new way Osama bin Laden was,
02:29until he was found in Pakistan.
02:30They denied 2611 until Qasab was interrogated, they had to admit.
02:34And of course, they denied other attacks where intelligence intercepts by foreign countries established their complicity.
02:41So their denials are worth nothing, absolutely zilch.
02:44And therefore, the responsibility clearly lies there.
02:47And that is what excuses India's decision to not just cross into POK, but also to cross the international border.
02:55Bahawalpur is very much inside Pakistani sovereign territory.
02:59And technically, therefore, the Pakistanis are right to claim it's a violation of sovereignty.
03:05But we only hit military, I beg your pardon, terrorist bases.
03:09And we avoided all other military installations.
03:12There may have been temptations, knowing very well that it's the military who train and dispatch these people.
03:16But nonetheless, we have taken care not to give them any further provocations.
03:22Now, the Pakistanis are bound to react.
03:24They've already said they will react.
03:26They've already also reacted across the line of control in terms of artillery shelling.
03:32I'm sorry to say some of our civilians on the Kashmir side have lost their lives.
03:36It has been a very sad and painful situation.
03:38But at the same time, some actions are necessary and some sacrifices have to be made.
03:44My heart goes out to those individuals who have been affected by this on the Indian side.
03:50But I do believe the government needed to do this.
03:53And I think my party has already announced complete solidarity and support to the government.
03:58The nation must stand united at this time.
04:01To my mind, we'll have to remain on alert for some more time to come.
04:05For the simple reason that the Pakistanis are threatening further action.
04:09But international diplomacy and other measures are going to work.
04:12I think everyone understands the reasons for what India did.
04:17And probably will have some appreciation for the way in which we did what we did.
04:22So I'm still hopeful that this matter can be contained without uncontrollable escalation.
04:28But no one knows.
04:30We have to watch it very carefully.
04:31And I think we all stand with the government in resolution, in determination, and in love for our motherland.
04:41Jayan.
04:42Sir, the US President for State has come out.
04:45He said it's a shame.
04:47And they have been fighting for decades.
04:51No, no.
04:52He said centuries.
04:53Pakistan has only existed since 1947.
04:55How can they have been fighting for centuries?
04:57I'm sorry to say that.
04:58No, he said decades and centuries.
05:01He said both.
05:03So I don't think we need to react to that.
05:05And I think we've got these.
05:06Now, you can write me down to register.
05:06Let's say this.
05:06Oops.
05:06I know this.
05:07Let's say this.
05:08Let's go.
05:09Fromyorsunuz zombie doctors.
05:10Yes, let's go.
05:11I usually get a chance.
05:12I don't think of what I'm saying.
05:14Maybe it's on this.
05:14Sir, I'm thinking of invite you to step down here.
05:16To me.
05:20Say that.
05:30You know it.
05:31Yeah.
05:32Almost.
05:32Okay.