'Uski Fitrat Hai...': Shashi Tharoor's Poetic Swipe At Pakistan After Ceasefire Breach With India

Just hours after India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire agreement, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor made a stinging remark aimed at Pakistan for allegedly violating the truce. The Congress leader, known for his articulate expressions, posted a Hindi couplet late Saturday night (May 10) that underscored his skepticism toward Pakistan’s commitments.

The ceasefire, which was agreed to at 5:00 PM IST on Saturday after direct communication between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, was seen as a crucial move toward de-escalation. However, by late evening, reports of drone sightings, explosions, and shelling suggested the truce was already under threat.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Tharoor posted the couplet, "Uski fitrat hai mukar jaane ki, uske vaade pe yakeen kaise karu?" The lines, loosely translated as “It is in their nature to renege on promises; how can I trust their word?”, were accompanied by the hashtag #ceasefireviolated.

Tharoor also spoke at an event earlier in the day, where he said, “I am very glad. India never wanted a long-term war but India wanted to teach terrorists a lesson, I believe that lesson has been taught,” referring to Operation Sindoor, India’s targeted military action against terror camps across the border in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack on April 22 that killed 25 civilians and one Nepali national.

Pakistan Breaks Truce, India Vows 'Decisive Response'

Later in the night, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the media, confirming that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire agreement through multiple provocations including drone sightings and border shelling.

“Over the last few hours, there have been repeated violations of the understanding... This is a breach of the understanding arrived at earlier today,” he said. The Indian Armed Forces, he added, were “responding appropriately” and had been instructed to deal “strongly” with any further aggression.

The ceasefire, which was agreed upon during a 3:35 PM call between the two DGMOs, is now under intense scrutiny, with fresh conversations scheduled for May 12 to assess the situation.

The recent escalation comes after India’s Operation Sindoor, which uncovered cross-border terror links in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, prompting its military to strike nine identified terror sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.