Indian Congress leader Shashi Tharoor acknowledges Pakistan’s military strength

Indian opposition leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has acknowledged the strength of Pakistan's armed forces during an interview with an Indian television channel.

Tharoor stated, “Pakistan is a country with a very large army. I have heard from some reliable sources that Pakistan possesses highly advanced weaponry. I do not believe the Modi government should initiate any further military adventurism.”

He went on to say that while it may take time to restore relations with Pakistan, he welcomes the recently agreed ceasefire between the two countries.

Tharoor emphasized the need to reconnect families separated across borders, adding that he personally supports increased people-to-people contact and the resumption of visa issuance.

This statement comes in the wake of India’s recent military aggression against Pakistan, to which the Pakistani armed forces delivered a strong response, reportedly shooting down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, as part of "Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos."

Read more: Rahul Gandhi bashes Modi govt for Uniting Pakistan and China, calls it a 'Foreign Policy Blunder'

Earlier senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy approach, alleging that it has resulted in closer ties between Pakistan and China—two of India's long-standing regional adversaries.

In a pointed remark, Gandhi stated, “The single biggest goal of India’s foreign policy has been to keep Pakistan and China separate. What you (Modi) have done is you have brought them together. This is the single biggest crime you have committed against the people of India.”

The Congress MP’s comments reflect growing concerns among opposition leaders over what they describe as diplomatic failures in managing India’s complex regional relationships.