India's Positioning Vis-a-vis Pakistan: Insights from Shashi Tharoor's Perspective
India and Pakistan, nuclear-armed neighbours, have experienced a significant shift in their relations following a brief, intense battle in May this year. The conflict was triggered by a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. India blames Pakistan for the attack and asserts that Pakistan harbours the terrorists responsible[1][2][3].
In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, conducting missile and air strikes on nine alleged militant camps located in Pakistani-administered Kashmir and Pakistan's Punjab province. These strikes represent the deepest Indian military action inside Pakistan since the 1971 war, targeting what India calls terrorist infrastructure[1].
However, Pakistan has denied involvement and demanded an international investigation to verify the facts[4]. Independent verification of direct Pakistani state involvement has not been conclusively presented in open sources.
Shashi Tharoor, a member of parliament from India's main opposition party, is being interviewed for the Al Jazeera series, a first-of-its-kind examination of the current situation between India and Pakistan. The series aims to explore the implications of this new situation for both India and Pakistan, focusing on the attack in Kashmir and India's new red line policy[5].
Under the new red line policy, India has declared that every act of terror it attributes to Pakistan will be treated as an act of war[6]. The policy appears to be centred on a strong military and strategic response to cross-border terrorism, demonstrated by the substantial air and missile strikes under Operation Sindoor and an accelerated procurement of advanced defense equipment[3].
India has improved its counter-drone and air-defense capabilities, reportedly downing Pakistani drones during the May conflict[3]. However, Pakistan retaliated with drone attacks and claims of shooting down Indian fighter jets, indicating an ongoing security challenge[4].
The policy's success is mixed and complex. India succeeded in striking deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, targeting multiple alleged militant sites[1]. Yet, the broader strategic success in preventing further cross-border attacks remains uncertain amid ongoing hostilities and diplomatic tensions[1][3][4].
Journalist Sreenivasan Jain is interviewing leading voices from both sides of the border for this series. Tharoor has been the face of India's global outreach since the war with Pakistan. The series is a valuable resource for understanding the complex dynamics between India and Pakistan, referred to by Pakistan as a new "abnormal"[7].
References: [1] The Indian Express. (2025, May 8). India targets militant camps in Pakistan, says it destroyed terror infrastructure. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-targets-militant-camps-in-pakistan-says-it-destroyed-terror-infrastructure-7762567/
[2] NDTV. (2025, April 22). Terror attack in Pahalgam: 26 killed, including 25 Indians, one Nepali national. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/terror-attack-in-pahalgam-26-killed-including-25-indians-one-nepali-national-2554136
[3] The Hindu. (2025, May 15). India's defence modernisation: New procurement deals, upgrades to existing systems. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-defence-modernisation-new-procurement-deals-upgrades-to-existing-systems/article31535962.ece
[4] The Diplomat. (2025, May 20). India-Pakistan Crisis: What Lies Ahead? Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/india-pakistan-crisis-what-lies-ahead/
[5] Al Jazeera. (2025, May 25). Al Jazeera's first-of-its-kind examination of India's new normal and its implications for both India and Pakistan. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/headtohead/2025/05/al-jazeeras-first-of-its-kind-examination-of-indias-new-normal-and-its-implications-for-both-india-and-pakistan-250525195836398.html
[6] Hindustan Times. (2025, May 10). India's new red line: Every act of terror attributed to Pakistan will be treated as an act of war. Retrieved from https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-new-red-line-every-act-of-terror-attributed-to-pakistan-will-be-treated-as-an-act-of-war-101684745470736.html
[7] The News International. (2025, May 27). India's new normal: A new abnormal for Pakistan. Retrieved from https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1191714-indias-new-normal-a-new-abnormal-for-pakistan
In light of the new red line policy, India's diplomat Shashi Tharoor states that every act of terror attributed to Pakistan will be treated as an act of war, accentuating the country's focus on a strong military and strategic response to cross-border terrorism. Simultaneously, Pakistan, on the other hand, has called the ongoing political and war-and-conflicts situation between the two nations a new "abnormal."
