'Liberating Bangladesh Had A Clear Objective; Shelling Pakistan Doesn't': Shashi Tharoor Welcomes Ceasefire

As political debate heats up over the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has welcomed the decision, arguing that India must prioritise peace, development, and the safety of its citizens over a drawn-out military confrontation.

The ceasefire, announced on May 10 following days of intense cross-border firing triggered by the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, has already become a political flashpoint. While the Congress party invoked former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s leadership during the 1971 Bangladesh war to draw a sharp contrast with the Modi government’s handling of the situation, Tharoor struck a more cautious and pragmatic tone.

‘This Is Not 1971’: Tharoor

Responding to Congress’s social media campaign highlighting Indira Gandhi's wartime legacy, Tharoor emphasised that current circumstances are far removed from those of the 1971 conflict. “The truth is that the circumstances of 1971 are not the circumstances of 2025. There are differences,” he told ANI, stressing that today’s geopolitical and military landscape is far more complex and dangerous.

He said the comparison between the two eras doesn’t hold, noting that the 1971 war had a clear moral and strategic goal—liberating Bangladesh. “Liberating Bangladesh is a clear objective. Just keeping on firing shells at Pakistan is not a clear objective. You see the difference,” he stated.

Tharoor also pointed out the human cost of recent violence, especially for civilians in areas like Poonch, and said that peace is essential for India's long-term interests. “This was not a war we intended to continue. We just wanted to teach terrorists a lesson. That lesson has been taught,” he said, adding that the government must still pursue justice for victims of the Pahalgam attack.

While voicing confidence in India's security agencies to track down those responsible, Tharoor cautioned against risking national stability. “We need to focus on the prosperity and well-being of Indian people… Peace is the right way to go at this stage,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the BJP criticised the Congress for glorifying past leaders while ignoring the inaction of previous governments post-26/11. The Congress, on its part, called for an all-party meeting to discuss the ceasefire and demanded transparency over any possible third-party involvement, following remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.