If They Hit Us Again, They’ll Get It Back Worse’: Shashi Tharoor’s Stern Warning to Pakistan

Georgetown, Guyana: In a strong message to Pakistan, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor declared that India would retaliate with greater force if provoked again, emphasizing that recent airstrikes under Operation Sindoor were defensive and not an act of war.

Speaking at a diplomatic forum in Guyana, Tharoor clarified India’s stance: “If they (Pakistan) hit us again, they’re going to get it back worse.” He stressed that India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, was a calibrated act of self-defence targeting nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“Each strike was retaliatory. We had no desire to suggest this was the beginning of a larger military campaign,” Tharoor explained. “India acted with restraint, with each action rooted in deterrence, not escalation.”

Tharoor also underlined India’s diplomatic transparency, stating that New Delhi had communicated clearly with global partners during the operation, assuring them that India did not seek war. “When governments called to express concern, we assured them — we are not interested in war,” he said.

According to Tharoor, the May 10 ceasefire was initiated by Pakistan via backchannel outreach, marking a turning point. “They contacted our Director General of Military Operations and sought to halt hostilities. If they stop, we have no reason to continue striking. That was, and remains, our principle,” he concluded.