In a sobering account that brought the horror of the recent Pahalgam terror attack into sharp global focus, senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament, Shashi Tharoor, did not hold back. Speaking during a diplomatic engagement at the Indian Consulate in New York, United States, Tharoor—who is part of the all-party delegation formed by the Modi government—revealed the disturbing sectarian motive behind the killings.

Representing India on the global stage as part of this unique bipartisan effort, Tharoor was direct in his remarks. Describing the heinous attack, he said the terrorists “identified the religion” of the victims before executing them. “Only people of one religion were identified and killed,” he emphasized. His candid declaration made it clear that the attack was not just an act of violence, but a targeted massacre based on faith.

This delegation, organized in batches, is part of a strategic outreach initiative by the Government of India to inform other nations about the realities of the Pahalgam attack, the nature of the threat, and India’s measured yet firm response. Tharoor's presence, despite ideological differences with the ruling party, reinforced the seriousness and bipartisan unity of the message being conveyed abroad.

Attack aimed at halting Kashmir’s growth story

During his address, Tharoor pointed to the calculated intent behind the timing and method of the assault. He argued that the act was not merely an expression of extremism but a deliberate move to derail the progress and development in Kashmir—a region that had recently begun to enjoy relative peace and prosperity.

He underlined this point with a telling comparison: “Last year, more tourists visited Kashmir than Aspen, Colorado. That’s not just normalcy, it is prosperity.” With this statement, Tharoor showcased how Kashmir, often in global headlines for unrest, had recently emerged as a bustling tourist hub, outperforming internationally recognized destinations.

This tourism boom was a tangible sign of normalcy following the abrogation of Article 370, a constitutional move by the Modi government aimed at integrating Jammu & Kashmir more closely with the rest of India. But Tharoor made it clear that enemies of peace were intent on reversing this positive trend. They chose violence in an attempt to fracture communal unity and instill fear, he explained.

Describing the nature of the attack, he stressed, “It was not someone blowing people up indiscriminately — it was a group identifying people by their religion and killing them.” The calculated targeting, he said, stripped away any doubts about the motives.

‘Hindus were singled out, and the message was clear’

Tharoor provided chilling details of the incident. Of the 26 victims, 25 were Indian citizens, and one was from Nepal. He highlighted that all of them were Hindus, brutally murdered solely because of their religious identity. His narrative served as a grim reminder that this was not blind terrorism—it was cold, religiously driven execution.

He narrated one harrowing incident in particular, where a Hindu professor managed to survive by reciting the 'kalma', an Islamic verse. This quick-thinking act deceived the terrorists into believing he was Muslim, sparing his life. Such stories underscore both the terror and the horrifying precision with which these attacks were carried out.

In a moment filled with emotion, Tharoor added: “In some cases, the husband was shot, and the wife was told to go back and tell the world that he was killed for his faith.” The cruelty was not just in the murder—it was in the message sent through those who survived. And yet, in the face of such provocation, Tharoor applauded the maturity and unity of Indian society. “I am proud to say there was no backlash,” he said. This, he noted, reflected the resilience and collective integrity of the Indian people, who chose harmony over hatred.

Terror outfit claimed responsibility within an hour

Responsibility for the brutal attack was swiftly claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a known terrorist outfit, within just one hour of the event. Tharoor pointed out that “India had no reason to doubt where it came from,” strongly implying a link to Pakistan-backed terrorism, though he stopped short of naming any country directly.

The Indian government’s response was swift and united. The formation of an all-party delegation, with leaders like Tharoor at the helm of specific missions, illustrated a determined diplomatic approach. By involving politicians across ideological lines, the Modi government sent a powerful message of national consensus and zero tolerance for terrorism.

Even though some segments of the opposition appeared uneasy with the delegation and figures like Tharoor leading it, the Centre’s strategy was clear. By incorporating diverse political voices, the mission gained greater legitimacy and conveyed a united national front to the international community.

This unity strengthened the credibility of India's narrative, especially when presenting sensitive information about the Pahalgam massacre and initiatives like Operation Sindoor—an effort to reinforce security and counter-terrorism measures in the region.