In a rare and candid admission, senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has acknowledged the military might of Pakistan, cautioning the Modi government against further military adventurism following the recent border escalation.
Speaking to an Indian television channel, Tharoor revealed he had heard from reliable sources that Pakistan possesses “some of the most advanced weaponry in the region.” Stressing the need for restraint, he warned, “I don’t think the Modi government should embark on any more misadventures.”
Tharoor’s remarks come in the aftermath of Pakistan’s forceful response to Indian aggression, in which five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, were downed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos. The operation reportedly left India’s defence infrastructure in shambles, with New Delhi quietly acknowledging the extent of its losses in a recent press briefing.
The Indian Air Force, which had previously admitted to losing three jets, has now indirectly confirmed that Rafales were among the aircraft brought down, marking a significant blow to India’s aerial prestige.
Praising the ceasefire, Tharoor also emphasized the importance of rebuilding people-to-people ties between the two nations. “Families separated by borders should be allowed to reunite,” he said. “I personally support more cross-border visas and human contact.”
As tensions simmer, Tharoor’s sober reflection stands in sharp contrast to the hawkish rhetoric from hardliners—offering a rare voice of reason amid a volatile geopolitical climate.
