Faisal Zaidi Writing Forum

The Intriguing Dilemma of Rishi Thahore: Advocating Anti-Terrorism While Protecting State Terrorism?
By Faisal Zaidi
The Indian government has nominated Rishi Thahore to lead a mission to major international capitals to advocate for India's position against terrorism, reflecting the nation's current political trajectory rather than its diplomatic priorities. This may have appeared to be a standard state maneuver—were it not for the time, the selected individual, and the concerning conflicts it reveals.
At a time when India is under increasing international pressure & scrutiny regarding its purported involvement in extrajudicial killings and clandestine operations abroad, the promotion of Thahore—a marginalised politician with minimal influence in the opposition—indicates that this delegation is primarily focused on domestic manoeuvring and strategic image management rather than global diplomacy.
1. Political Opportunism Attired in Patriotism
Rishi Thahore has been endeavouring to re-establish his significance after years of political insignificance, especially subsequent to the Indian National Congress's denial of a more prominent position. His requests for increased authority were disregarded, and with state elections approaching next year, he is very motivated to re-establish himself as a national figure.
Thahore's political disappointments were exacerbated following his unsuccessful attempt to secure an international position, namely when he lost the competition to lead a UN. The setback appears to have catalysed a revitalised domestic agenda aimed at appeasing the establishment in anticipation of future political significance.
Currently, leveraging a foreign policy assignment orchestrated by a government and security apparatus he previously condemned, he appears to have discovered a method to regain public attention. His appointment, lacking official nomination from the opposition or an appropriate portfolio, clearly signifies that this position was not attained via merit but rather conferred for political expediency.
2. Deliberate Engineering by the Deep State
Thahore’s appointment exemplifies the manner in which India’s deep state—consisting of powerful individuals in intelligence, defence, and affiliated media—is progressively influencing the nation’s narrative domestically and internationally. The Indian state has chosen an individual who can be shaped, promoted, and directed, rather than depending on experienced diplomats or bipartisan representatives. Perhaps his British accent and oratory are the only qualifications despite his own party Indian National Congress did not nominate him.
By selectively choosing persons such as Thahore, the deep state guarantees that international message aligns not with India's democratic diversity, but with the uniform agenda of the security apparatus.
Political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot has seen the escalating securitisation of Indian politics, wherein internal criticism is equated with sedition, and foreign policy serves as a platform to promote domestic political objectives. Thahore's new position aligns seamlessly with this tendency.
3. The 'Once Upon a Time' Doctrine: Reiterating a Worn Narrative
In his speeches, Thahore has accused Pakistan of the Phahalgam incident, citing a "pattern of involvement." This dependence on historical allegations—lacking contemporary, tangible evidence—exposes intellectual complacency, laziness and political opportunism.
“This is not the inaugural instance of their actions,” he asserted during a recent press engagement. However, such claims lack substantiation from publicly available material from the ongoing investigation. The investigation remains active. Not a single terrorist has been captured or killed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declined to respond to questions from independent media and the opposition over both the Phahalgam incident and Operation Sindoor—India's overt military operation purportedly extending beyond its boundaries. By eschewing transparency and advancing a hasty conclusion, the government is replacing due process with propaganda.
4. Assaulting Without Evidence: A Global Legal Dilemma
India has executed retaliatory attacks against Pakistani civilians and soldiers following the Phahalgam incident, without awaiting the outcome of its own probe. This essentially constitutes military action predicated on unsubstantiated claims.
This conduct is not only diplomatically imprudent but also constitutes a blatant infringement of international law.
According to Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, governments are forbidden from employing force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state, except in cases of self-defence following an armed attack. Without substantiated evidence or a UN authorisation, India's actions may be deemed aggressive rather than defensive.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has asserted in prior instances, such as Nicaragua v. United States (1986), that the criteria for the lawful use of force must be "strictly proven," rather than inferred or implied from historical conduct.
5. A Preconceived Inquiry: When Conclusions Anticipate Investigations
The Phahalgam tragedy, both tragic and concerning, warrants a credible and comprehensive investigation. Nevertheless, Indian authorities such as Thahore are prematurely asserting conclusions on international platforms, as if the facts are irrevocably established. This not only compromises the investigation but also implies that the delegation's objective is more focused on story management than on the pursuit of truth.
This conduct corresponds with a wider decline in institutional autonomy in India. Investigative agencies can seem tainted, reflecting political biases instead than offering objective assessments. This pattern now extends to India's overseas diplomacy.
6. State-Sanctioned Assassinations Overseas: The Unaddressed Issue
The most evident irony in Thahore’s anti-terrorism trip is the Indian government’s purported involvement in clandestine assassinations overseas, namely targeting Sikh separatists in Canada, the UK, and the US.
In September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India's involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian territory. These claims were not unfounded. Intelligence sources from Canada and the United States allegedly intercepted messages implicating Indian operations.
In November 2023, U.S. federal authorities indicted Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, for conspiring to assassinate Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. The indictment referenced direct connections to an officer in India's intelligence agency (RAW), describing the conspiracy as a "murder-for-hire scheme with transnational implications."
According to international law, extrajudicial assassinations are classified as acts of terrorism, fundamentally akin to the actions that India often denounces.
7. Suppressing Dissent Domestically and Internationally: The True Aim?
Thahore's role may also be integral to a wider strategy: to conflate dissent—whether from Kashmiri activists, Sikh separatists, or journalists—with terrorism. Domestically, legislation such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) has been employed to incarcerate dissenters without trial. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have consistently cautioned against this trend.
India's international strategy is currently focussing on diaspora voices, characterising political activism as extremism and employing the language of terrorism to undermine opposition legitimacy. In this environment, Thahore is not merely safeguarding India from external threats; he is also shaping a foreign policy narrative that delegitimises domestic criticism.
By doing so, India risks emulating the strategies of authoritarian regimes that employ anti-terror legislation to suppress dissent. By dispatching an individual such as Thahore to international forums, the Indian state conveys its readiness to disregard democratic dissent and adopt a security-centric narrative even abroad.
Conclusion: A Mission Founded on Unstable Ground
Rishi Thahore's appointment is not only a dubious political manoeuvre but also indicative of a more profound breakdown in Indian administration. When a democracy's foreign policy serves as an extension of its domestic propaganda, and when individuals with questionable motives are assigned the responsibility of shaping national narratives, the outcome is a deterioration of both credibility and accountability.
India's struggle against terrorism is justifiable, provided it is grounded in truth, adherence to the rule of law, and moral integrity. Dispatching Thahore, given his self-interested motives and reticence over India's covert operations, undermines this cause.
Ultimately, India's global position will not be established by delegations comprised of sycophants, but by diplomats, jurists, and leaders prepared to confront hard realities rather than merely disseminate convenient falsehoods.

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