Shashi Tharoor Shares 4 Reasons Why Trump’s Ceasefire Post on India & Pak was ‘Disappointing’
In a recent tweet, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his disappointment with US President Donald Trump’s post on a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Tharoor has been a vocal critic of the Indian government’s policies, particularly with regards to the Kashmir dispute. In his tweet, he shared four reasons why Trump’s post was “disappointing” and a step in the wrong direction. In this blog post, we’ll delve deeper into the reasons behind Tharoor’s disappointment and analyze the implications of Trump’s post.
False Equivalence between Victim and Perpetrator
Tharoor’s first reason for disappointment was that Trump’s post implied a “false equivalence” between India and Pakistan. This implies that both countries are equally responsible for the conflict, which Tharoor believes is not the case. Pakistan has been accused of sponsoring terrorism in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, and has been responsible for several terrorist attacks on Indian soil. On the other hand, India has been accused of human rights abuses in Kashmir, particularly after the revocation of Article 370. Trump’s post, however, failed to acknowledge these differences, instead choosing to focus on a ceasefire between the two countries.
Pakistan’s Negotiating Framework Unearned
Tharoor’s second reason for disappointment was that Trump’s post offered Pakistan a negotiating framework which it hadn’t earned. Pakistan has been accused of supporting terrorism and has been responsible for several attacks on Indian soil. Despite this, Trump’s post seemed to give Pakistan a seat at the negotiating table without acknowledging its past actions. Tharoor believes that Pakistan needs to take concrete steps to address India’s concerns before being given a negotiating framework.
Internationalising the Kashmir Dispute
Tharoor’s third reason for disappointment was that Trump’s post “internationalised” the Kashmir dispute. The Kashmir dispute is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and should be resolved through direct talks between the two countries. Trump’s post, however, seemed to imply that the international community has a role to play in resolving the dispute. Tharoor believes that this is a step in the wrong direction and that the dispute should be resolved through bilateral talks.
Re-Hyphenating India and Pakistan
Tharoor’s final reason for disappointment was that Trump’s post “re-hyphenated” India and Pakistan. The “India-Pakistan” hyphenation implies that the two countries are connected and that their actions have a direct impact on each other. Tharoor believes that this is a step back for India, which has been trying to move away from the hyphenation and establish itself as a standalone nation. Trump’s post, however, seemed to imply that India and Pakistan are still connected and that their actions have a direct impact on each other.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tharoor’s tweet highlights several reasons why Trump’s post on a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was “disappointing”. From implying a false equivalence between the two countries to offering Pakistan a negotiating framework which it hadn’t earned, Trump’s post was a step in the wrong direction. Tharoor believes that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved through bilateral talks and that India should not be re-hyphenated with Pakistan. As the situation in Kashmir continues to deteriorate, it is essential that world leaders take a more nuanced approach to resolving the dispute.
Source:
https://x.com/shashitharoor/status/1921962732972302677
