Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday expressed disappointment over Pakistan emerging as one of the key players in the mediation efforts surrounding the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He said that India, given its international stature and ties with both sides, should have taken the diplomatic lead. Reacting to reports of Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt engaging in backchannel efforts between the United States and Iran, Tharoor said he had backed the Indian government’s cautious posture earlier, expecting New Delhi to step in with a constructive peace initiative.
