Shashi Tharoor Shares 4 Reasons Why Trump’s Ceasefire Post on India & Pak was ‘Disappointing’
In a recent tweet, US President Donald Trump shared a ceasefire post between India and Pakistan, calling for a temporary halt to hostilities between the two nations. However, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was not impressed with the tweet, terming it “disappointing” and sharing four reasons why he believes it is so.
Firstly, Tharoor argued that Trump’s tweet implies a “false equivalence” between victim and perpetrator. According to him, this is because the tweet does not acknowledge India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which have been repeatedly breached by Pakistan. Instead, it seems to equate the two countries as equals, which is a gross injustice. Tharoor believes that this approach is not only unjust but also promotes a narrative that is detrimental to India’s interests.
Secondly, Tharoor claimed that the tweet offers Pakistan a negotiating framework which it hasn’t earned. He believes that Pakistan has consistently been involved in cross-border terrorism and has refused to take concrete steps to address India’s concerns. By offering Pakistan a ceasefire, Trump’s tweet seems to reward Pakistan’s bad behavior and undermine India’s efforts to address the issue. Tharoor argues that this approach only emboldens Pakistan to continue its nefarious activities and undermines India’s efforts to protect its citizens.
Thirdly, Tharoor argued that the tweet “internationalises” the Kashmir dispute. He believes that the tweet implies that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan, which is not true. The Kashmir issue is a bilateral dispute between India and Pakistan, and it would be better resolved through bilateral negotiations rather than internationalising it. Tharoor believes that this approach only complicates the issue and creates more problems than it solves.
Finally, Tharoor claimed that the tweet “re-hyphenates” India and Pakistan. He believes that India has made it clear that it is willing to engage with Pakistan bilaterally, but only if Pakistan takes concrete steps to address India’s concerns. By calling for a ceasefire, Trump’s tweet seems to suggest that India and Pakistan are still linked together, which is not true. Tharoor believes that this approach only undermines India’s efforts to move forward and create a more stable and secure environment in the region.
In conclusion, Shashi Tharoor’s tweet highlights the disappointing nature of Trump’s ceasefire post on India and Pakistan. He believes that the tweet implies a false equivalence between victim and perpetrator, offers Pakistan a negotiating framework which it hasn’t earned, internationalises the Kashmir dispute, and re-hyphenates India and Pakistan. Tharoor’s tweet serves as a reminder that India’s interests must be protected and that any efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue must be based on a clear understanding of the facts and a commitment to justice and equality.
Source: https://x.com/shashitharoor/status/1921962732972302677
