Shashi Tharoor expressed regret for opposing India’s initial response to the Ukraine war, indicating that current policies could help achieve lasting peace. He reiterated the principles supporting his critique, emphasized India’s potential role in peacekeeping, and contrasted this with historical resistance to similar proposals.
Shashi Tharoor, a member of the Indian Parliament, recently reflected on his criticism of India’s initial response to the Russia-Ukraine war, expressing that he felt he had “egg on his face” for opposing the nation’s stance in 2022. Tharoor acknowledged that the adopted policy enables India to contribute meaningfully to a lasting peace in the region.
Originally, Tharoor noted that India’s response lacked condemnation of Russia’s aggression, stating it had navigated a complicated position. He emphasized that his critique stemmed from principles such as the violation of the UN Charter and the sovereignty of Ukraine, asserting that India traditionally opposes the use of force in international conflicts.
He elaborated that India’s unique position allows it to influence lasting peace, given its strategic distance from Europe and other favorable factors. Furthermore, Tharoor indicated that while he cannot speak on behalf of the government or the ruling party as an opposition leader, he believes there could be openness to deploying peacekeepers if a consensus is reached between Russia and Ukraine.
Tharoor contrasted this potential scenario with past desires to deploy Indian troops to Iraq, which faced considerable parliamentary resistance. He expressed optimism that in the case of Ukraine, should a peace agreement arise, there may be less opposition to the idea of Indian peacekeepers than there was in 2003 for Iraq. Tharoor reiterated his stance, emphasizing his position in the opposition limits his ability to make definitive statements for the government.
In summary, Shashi Tharoor has candidly addressed his prior reservations about India’s stance on the Ukraine conflict, recognizing that India’s current diplomatic positioning may facilitate contributions towards lasting peace. He reaffirmed his foundational principles regarding sovereignty and the UN Charter while also noting a potential future role for India in peacekeeping, contingent upon a successful peace agreement between involved parties.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
