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, a seasoned diplomat and politician, shared four reasons why Trump’s post was “disappointing” and a reflection of the US president’s lack of understanding of the complex situation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The tweet in question was a response to Trump’s statement on Twitter, where he called for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The US president’s tweet read, “I have been saying it for years, the United States will never forget the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, or the many other terrorist attacks it has suffered. But we must also remember that Pakistan was a key ally in the fight against terrorism. We must continue to work together to defeat terrorism and promote regional stability.”
Tharoor’s response, however, was not as enthusiastic as Trump’s. In his tweet, he shared four reasons why Trump’s post was “disappointing”. According to Tharoor, Trump’s post was “disappointing” because it implies a “false equivalence” between the victim and the perpetrator. Tharoor argued that this equivalence is wrong because India has been the victim of cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan, while Pakistan has not been a victim of terrorism.
Tharoor’s second reason was that Trump’s post offers Pakistan a negotiating framework which it hasn’t earned. According to Tharoor, Pakistan has not taken concrete steps to dismantle terrorist infrastructure or bring perpetrators of terror attacks to justice. Instead, Trump’s post gives Pakistan a platform to negotiate with India, which is unacceptable.
The third reason why Tharoor found Trump’s post “disappointing” was that it “internationalises” the Kashmir dispute. Tharoor argued that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and internationalising it would only complicate matters further. He added that the Kashmir dispute is a complex issue that requires a sustained and meaningful dialogue between India and Pakistan, and Trump’s post does not provide a conducive environment for such a dialogue.
Tharoor’s fourth and final reason was that Trump’s post “re-hyphenates” India and Pakistan. According to Tharoor, India and Pakistan are separate nations with separate interests and concerns. By linking them together in a single tweet, Trump’s post implies that India’s actions are inextricably linked to Pakistan’s, which is not true.
Tharoor’s response to Trump’s post is reflective of the deep-seated concerns that many Indians have about Pakistan’s role in promoting terrorism and sponsoring cross-border attacks. The Kashmir dispute is a sensitive issue that has been ongoing for decades, and any effort to internationalise it or offer Pakistan a negotiating framework without concrete action on its part is likely to be met with resistance.
In conclusion, Tharoor’s tweet highlights the importance of nuance and understanding in international diplomacy. Trump’s post may have been well-intentioned, but it lacked the depth and complexity required to address the complex situation between India and Pakistan. As Tharoor’s tweet shows, even a well-intentioned tweet can have unintended consequences, and it is essential to be mindful of these consequences before speaking publicly on sensitive issues.
Source: https://x.com/shashitharoor/status/1921962732972302677
