A gaggle of US Congressmen on Wednesday expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the Pahalgam terror assault and prolonged assist for India’s proper to reply to terrorism within the spirit of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

The all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor held candid and fruitful exchanges with House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) management.(X/@IndianEmbassyUS)

The lawmakers additionally hailed the robust strategic partnership between India and the US throughout a gathering with an all-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who briefed them on the cross-border terrorism confronted by India and the nation’s robust and resolute stance within the struggle towards terror.

“Bipartisan co-chairs @RoKhanna & @RepMcCormick and vice co-chairs @RepAndyBarr & @RepVeasey of India Caucus in the House of Representatives met with the visiting Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor today,” the Indian Embassy mentioned in a submit on X.

The parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism confronted by India and New Delhi’s robust and resolute stance within the struggle towards terror, it mentioned.

“The Congressmen expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the terror attack in Pahalgam. They expressed support for India’s right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism,” the Indian mission mentioned.

The all-party delegation additionally held candid and fruitful exchanges with House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) management.

“Chair @RepBrianMast, Ranking Member @RepGregoryMeeks, South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chair @RepHuizenga, Ranking Member @RepKamlagerDove, Ranking Member @RepBera and East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee @RepYoungKim greeted the delegation,” the Indian Embassy mentioned in one other submit on X.

The parliamentary delegation briefed the committee members on the success of Operation Sindoor in defining a brand new regular in India’s struggle towards cross-border terrorism.

The committee management condemned the Pahalgam assault unequivocally and mentioned India and USA stand collectively of their unwavering resolve and struggle towards terrorism in all its varieties.

The delegation is without doubt one of the seven multi-party delegations India had tasked to go to 33 international capitals to succeed in out to the worldwide group to emphasize Pakistan’s hyperlinks to terrorism.

Other members of the delegation are Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Ganti Harish Madhur Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Tejasvi Surya (BJP) and India’s former Ambassador to the US Taranjit Sandhu.

The delegation has travelled to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil earlier than arriving in Washington on the final leg of its tour.

In its interactions within the US, the delegation will convey India’s resolve towards terrorism and emphasise Pakistan’s hyperlinks to terrorism.

Speaking to PTI, delegation member Deora mentioned that the group within the US, in addition to these visiting different areas and international locations, is telling the world that “India has had enough.”

He mentioned that each nation they visited to this point “issued very unequivocal, I would almost say, unconditional, statements in favour of India.”

“We want to live in peace. We would prefer it if we have a stable neighbour. Nobody wants an unstable lunatic living next to you,” he mentioned.

Another delegation member Surya instructed PTI that there’s completely no sympathy in the direction of Pakistani-originated terrorism.

The international locations the delegation visited have “very clearly understood why India was constrained to respond militarily in the way it did, and have supported India’s counterterrorism measure.”

On a Pakistani delegation arriving in Washington the identical day, Deora mentioned, “There is no doubt in anyone’s mind in the United States that Pakistan is a banana republic, a failed state, a terror exporter, a country where the civilian government has no power, (it’s) the army that controls the power. So I don’t think that it matters to India that there’s a Pakistani delegation trying to play copy and paste.”

Surya additionally mentioned that it was not the “first time that the Pakistanis tried to copy India in what India tries to do, but they end up a cheap copy.”

He mentioned that the world has lengthy noticed what India stands for and what Pakistan stands for.

Investing in India, he mentioned, is seen as an funding in democracy, accountable civilian management and international progress. On the opposite hand, he famous that each terrorist assault within the final 20-30 years that has rocked the world has had investigations straight or not directly resulting in Pakistan.

He added that over 50 UN-designated terrorists have shaped a secure haven in Pakistan. “So the narrative of a country like Pakistan cannot be salvaged by an accented English speaking suit-wearing ex-foreign minister. Pakistan’s hands are too full in blood to be washed away by this overnight drama,” Surya mentioned.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam terror assault, with India finishing up precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir within the early hours of May 7.

Pakistan tried to assault Indian navy bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian facet responded strongly to the Pakistani actions.

The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding of stopping the navy actions following talks between the administrators normal of navy operations of each side on May 10.