Tharoor, Bhutto-led team head to US for India-Pakistan diplomatic faceoff

Backed by a united political front against terrorism, an Indian all-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is heading to Washington this week to engage with US lawmakers. The visit comes as part of India’s global outreach following Operation Sindoor, even as a Pakistani team led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari prepares to present its own narrative to American lawmakers and political leaders.

Tharoor-led team is heading back to the US after the delegation completed visit to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil. The group is expected to arrive in Washington, D.C. on June 3.

The Indian delegation includes leaders from different political parties: BJP MP Bhubaneshwar Kalita, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, and former Indian ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Their US tour began on May 24 in New York, as lawmakers in Washington were away for the Memorial Day weekend.

Now returning to Washington, the Indian delegation will meet members of the Trump administration, key Congressional committees, and several US lawmakers. The aim is to explain India's actions after the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 civilians.

Shashi Tharoor had earlier said that India has made it clear Pakistan will pay a heavier price for sponsoring terror unless it takes serious action against terrorism.

BHUTTO-ZARDARI LEADS PAKISTAN

Meanwhile, a nine-member Pakistani delegation led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is also visiting the US. According to Pakistan’s foreign ministry, their visit starts on June 2.

The Pakistani team includes several former ministers and diplomats, including Hina Rabbani Khar, Sherry Rehman, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, and Tehmina Janjua.

In a copycat move, the Pakistani government decided to send out delegations soon after India revealed it would send seven all-party teams to 33 countries to explain the reasons behind Operation Sindoor.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said its delegations will explain Islamabad’s view of what it calls "Indian aggression."

The Pakistani delegation will also raise questions about the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which India paused after the April 22 attack. Pakistan says it will push for the "immediate resumption" of the treaty’s full operations.