In a significant diplomatic win for India, Colombia has retracted its earlier statement expressing condolences for deaths in Pakistan following Indian counter-terrorism strikes. This U-turn comes after a forceful intervention by an all-party Indian delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who conveyed India’s “disappointment” over Colombia’s initial position.
The controversy arose when Colombia, on May 7, issued a statement condoling the deaths in Pakistan, seemingly drawing an equivalence between those who perpetrate terrorism and those who defend against it. This was in the context of India’s “Operation Sindoor,” launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were massacred.
During his visit to Bogota as part of a multi-party delegation, Shashi Tharoor articulated India’s unwavering stance on terrorism. He emphasized that there could be “no equivalence between those who dispatch terrorists and those who defend themselves,” and that India was merely exercising its right to self-defence. He highlighted that India, much like Colombia, has suffered decades of terror attacks and possesses concrete evidence of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism behind the Pahalgam incident.
Tharoor’s strong remarks, coupled with detailed explanations from the Indian delegation, which included former Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu and other MPs, appear to have swayed Colombian officials. Colombian Vice Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio acknowledged the receipt of “detailed information regarding the real situation, the conflict, and what happened in Kashmir,” expressing confidence in continued dialogue.
Following these interactions, Tharoor announced that Colombia had withdrawn its problematic statement and would issue a new one expressing “strong support for our position and understanding of our position.” This reversal underscores the success of India’s diplomatic outreach aimed at clarifying its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and distinguishing between legitimate counter-terrorism actions and acts of aggression.
The incident highlights the importance of clear communication and robust diplomatic efforts in shaping international understanding of complex geopolitical issues. India’s all-party delegation is on a multi-nation tour to countries including Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and the United States, aiming to build a stronger global consensus against terrorism and expose its state sponsors.