Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has raised serious concerns over US President Donald Trump’s luncheon with Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, citing Pakistan’s long-standing links with terrorist organisations. In a pointed reminder to the American public, Tharoor invoked Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack, who was found hiding near a Pakistan Army base, to highlight what he called the duplicity of the Pakistani administration.
“Some Senators and Congressmen who met the Pak delegation did… but people in the US could not have forgotten the Osama episode so quickly. Pak’s culpability in hiding this man until he was found… near an Army camp cannot be so easily forgiven by the Americans,” Tharoor said.
‘Hope General Munir Got the Message’: Tharoor on Pak Terror Support
The Thiruvananthapuram MP said he hoped President Trump used the opportunity to strongly warn General Munir about Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism in India. “I hope, while the General was being wined and dined, he got all these messages… because that would also be in America’s interest,” Tharoor remarked.
His warning comes amid increasing alarm in India over Pakistan’s emboldened rhetoric and terrorist activities. Munir’s recent remarks calling Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular” and making derogatory comparisons between Pakistani and Indian cultures were made just days before the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also weighed in, telling a Dutch broadcaster that the attackers were motivated by Munir’s “extreme religious outlook.”
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The Indian government has since presented evidence suggesting that not only was the Pahalgam attack orchestrated by Pakistan’s deep state, but that similar state-backed attacks had occurred in London and Moscow recently.
Modi Rebuffs Mediation, Affirms India’s Stance on Kashmir
Adding to the controversy was the timing of Munir’s White House visit, which took place just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to President Trump from the G7 Summit in Canada. During the call, Modi firmly reiterated that India would never accept third-party mediation on Kashmir, a position backed by complete political consensus in New Delhi.
Despite Modi’s clarity, Trump continued to publicly claim he brokered a ceasefire during Operation Sindoor, even as India maintained that Pakistan had requested the ceasefire. “Love Pak, Modi fantastic,” Trump said, while once again complaining that his role in the ceasefire was being ignored by the media.
India has maintained that Pakistan must vacate illegally occupied Kashmir, a demand it says will not change under any circumstances.
