New Delhi (National Times): In a significant diplomatic development following Operation Sindoor, India’s All-Party Delegation is set to visit Washington, DC, as part of its international outreach campaign. Coinciding with this visit, a Pakistani delegation led by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also be in the U.S. capital, setting the stage for a diplomatic face-off between the two neighbouring nations on the global stage.
The Indian delegation is led by Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor. Speaking to ANI ahead of the visit, Tharoor acknowledged the complexity of the U.S. media landscape but expressed strong confidence in India’s ability to communicate its message, especially its stance on terrorism, to those who care about South Asia.
“In Washington, we’ll be there almost on the same dates as the Pakistani delegation,” Tharoor said, adding, “That itself will generate increased media interest — two competing narratives being presented in the same city.”
While he admitted that India’s story might not automatically top the U.S. news agenda, Tharoor emphasized that audiences invested in regional security, South Asian geopolitics, and anti-terrorism efforts would be receptive. “It’s a crowded media space, but if we can reach the right people, we can easily get our message across,” he said.
The Indian team has lined up a full schedule in Washington, including meetings with key government officials, legislators, influential think tanks, and members of the media. According to Tharoor, he is scheduled to give six to eight interviews to major American networks, podcasts, and news outlets, along with a public address at the prestigious National Press Club.
Highlighting the significance of U.S.-India relations, Tharoor noted the broad scope of cooperation, from trade and defence to intelligence sharing and multilateral forums like the QUAD and G20. “The Security Council is just one dimension of a much wider and deeper strategic relationship,” he remarked.
Responding to speculation that the U.S. may have played a role in the de-escalation of recent tensions between India and Pakistan, Tharoor firmly stated that India had no interest in prolonging hostilities. “We didn’t need persuasion to stop. We never wanted war. Our response was targeted retribution against terrorism, not a move toward conflict,” he said.
Tharoor also commented on the limited reach of the Pakistani diplomatic mission compared to India’s. “It’s not surprising that Pakistan has also sent out a delegation, but while they are focusing on select capitals like Washington, Brussels, and London, we’ve gone beyond — covering those and more,” he added.
The Indian delegation comprises representatives from across the political spectrum, underscoring the country’s democratic unity on foreign policy. The team includes Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s delegation, led by Bilawal Bhutto, was dispatched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to present Islamabad’s position amid the recent rise in Indo-Pak tensions.
As both delegations take their case to Washington, all eyes will be on how their narratives shape global perceptions — and influence key decision-makers in the U.S. and beyond.
