Escalation Not The Answer: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Warns Against 1971 Nostalgia In 2025

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor backs India’s ceasefire pact with Pakistan, calling for peace and progress over escalation; draws sharp contrast with 1971 war.

In the wake of India and Pakistan agreeing to a ceasefire following the recent flare-up after the Pahalgam terror attack, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor weighed in with a measured take on the situation. Tharoor says, “We had reached a stage where the escalation was needlessly getting out of control. Peace is necessary for us.”

His comments came amidst the Congress party’s social media campaign evoking former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s leadership during the 1971 war. When asked about the comparison, Tharoor responded diplomatically: “The circumstances of 1971 are not the circumstances of 2025. There are differences.”

A Timed Message or Calculated Moderation?

Tharoor acknowledged the national outrage over the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead, but asserted that the purpose was never a prolonged war. “We just wanted to teach terrorists a lesson. That lesson has been taught,” he said. He expressed confidence that the government would continue tracking down those directly responsible: “It may not happen overnight... but no one should be allowed to get away with killing innocent civilians.”

However, he stressed that continuing military escalation would have been counterproductive. “As far as this particular conflict with Pakistan was concerned, there was no reason to risk more lives, limbs and fortunes,” he said, urging a shift in focus to growth, development, and the well-being of Indian citizens.

Balancing Legacy and Realpolitik

Referring to the Bangladesh liberation war, Tharoor praised Indira Gandhi’s leadership, calling the 1971 victory a “great achievement” that makes him proud as an Indian. “But the circumstances were different,” he added, pointing out that today's geopolitical and military dynamics make the cost of conflict much higher. “Liberating Bangladesh is a clear objective. Just firing shells at Pakistan is not.”

The Congress’s move to invoke Indira Gandhi drew reactions across the political spectrum. The BJP countered by questioning Congress’s silence post-26/11 under UPA, while Congress’s Jairam Ramesh demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the ceasefire and raised concerns about possible third-party mediation hinted at by the US.