"No Equivalence Between Terrorists and Their Victims": Shashi Tharoor Rejects Mediation Talk in Washington DC

Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor firmly dismissed the idea of the United States acting as a mediator between India and Pakistan, emphasizing that "mediation is not a term that we are particularly willing to entertain."

#WATCH | Washington DC: When asked if it is helpful to have the United States available as a mediator, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "Mediation is not a term that we are particularly willing to entertain. You're implying an equivalence which simply doesn't exist. There is no… pic.twitter.com/S8BGoorXgc

— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2025

"No Equivalence Between Terrorists and Their Victims": Shashi Tharoor

Speaking to media during his visit to the US capital, Tharoor made it clear that any suggestion of equivalence between India and Pakistan — particularly in the context of terrorism — is fundamentally flawed.

“You’re implying an equivalence which simply doesn’t exist,” Tharoor stated. “There is no equivalence between terrorists and their victims. There is no equivalence between a country that provides a safe haven to terrorism and a country that’s a flourishing multi-party democracy trying to get on with its business.”

Tharoor acknowledged that high-level calls were received by the Indian government from the US

Tharoor acknowledged that high-level calls were received by the Indian government from the US, expressing concern and interest in the ongoing tensions. However, he added that any effective persuasion likely needed to be directed toward Pakistan, which he implied is responsible for harboring terrorist elements.

“They must have been making similar calls at the highest levels to the Pakistan side. Because that’s the side that needed persuading to stop this process… That may well have been where their messages really had the greatest effect,” he noted, while clarifying that the latter part was “guesswork.”

His remarks underscore India’s consistent position of not accepting third-party mediation in bilateral matters with Pakistan, especially those related to terrorism and cross-border hostility.

The statement comes amid renewed international attention on the India-Pakistan dynamic, and growing diplomatic efforts by the West to ensure de-escalation in the region.