Colombia Retracts Pakistan Statement After Indian Delegation’s Objection
NEW DELHI: Colombia has rescinded its earlier statement expressing condolences for lives lost in Pakistan following India’s military strikes, after a delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor voiced strong objections. The South American nation has pledged to issue a new statement endorsing India’s position on combating terrorism, marking a significant diplomatic achievement for India’s global outreach efforts.
Tharoor, heading a multi-party parliamentary delegation on a tour across the Americas, expressed disappointment during a press conference in Bogotá on Thursday over Colombia’s initial stance, which appeared to sympathize with Pakistan rather than the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. “We were disappointed that Colombia’s statement seemed to overlook the distinction between those who perpetrate terrorism and those who defend against it,” Tharoor told reporters. He emphasized that India’s actions were a legitimate exercise of its right to self-defense.
Following discussions with Colombia’s Foreign Ministry, where the Senior Vice Minister received the delegation, Colombia agreed to withdraw its earlier remarks. “They have retracted the statement that caused our concern and will issue one strongly supporting our position,” Tharoor announced, speaking at Tadeo Lozano University in Bogotá, where the delegation also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
BJP MP Shashank Mani, a member of the delegation, highlighted Colombia’s own history with terrorism, noting that the country’s understanding of India’s position stemmed from its past struggles. “Colombia, having faced terrorism itself, recognizes our message of peace and our resolve to respond decisively to attacks,” Mani said, reinforcing India’s commitment to peace after delivering a firm response to terrorism.
The delegation’s visit to Colombia is part of India’s broader diplomatic campaign to underscore its zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Tharoor’s team, which includes MPs from various parties and former Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has already visited Panama and Guyana and is set to continue to Brazil and the United States.
Tharoor clarified that there should be no equivalence between nations that sponsor terrorism and those defending themselves. “We are here to dispel any misunderstanding,” he told, adding that Colombia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, expressed full support for India’s stance after receiving detailed explanations of the situation in Kashmir.
The retraction by Colombia, a soon-to-be member of the UN Security Council, underscores the effectiveness of India’s diplomatic efforts to rally international support against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, as the delegation continues its mission to strengthen global partnerships for peace and security.