KKN Gurugram Desk | In a significant diplomatic development, the South American nation of Colombia has officially withdrawn a statement that earlier expressed sympathy towards Pakistan in response to events following India’s Operation Sindoor.

This decision came within 48 hours of a strong protest by senior Indian Congress MP and former diplomat Dr. Shashi Tharoor, who is currently leading an all-party parliamentary delegation on a multi-nation visit to the Americas.

 Background: What Triggered the Diplomatic Discomfort

Following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, India launched a retaliatory operation named Operation Sindoor. In the wake of this, Colombia had issued a statement condemning the loss of life in Pakistan, but failed to address the victims of the terror attack in India.

This asymmetrical response from Colombia was flagged by Dr. Tharoor during a press conference in Bogota, where he publicly criticized the lack of balance in Colombia’s position.

 Tharoor’s Statement in Bogota: No Equivalence Between Victim and Aggressor

Speaking firmly on India’s behalf, Shashi Tharoor said:

“We are disappointed by the Colombian government’s reaction, which expressed deep sympathy for those who lost their lives in Pakistan following India’s defensive operations but failed to mention the victims of terrorism in India.
There can be no equivalence between those who perpetrate terror and those who defend against it. If any misunderstanding exists, we are here to clarify it.”

His statement drew immediate attention in Colombian political circles and prompted diplomatic consultations between the Indian delegation and the Colombian foreign ministry.

 Meeting with Colombia’s Vice Foreign Minister: India’s Message Delivered

The Indian delegation later met with Colombia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, along with senior officials handling Asia-Pacific affairs.

During the meeting, the Indian side:

• Expressed deep dissatisfaction over the earlier Colombian statement

• Reiterated India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism

• Clarified the context of Operation Sindoor as a defensive, not aggressive, military response

In a post-meeting interaction with ANI, Tharoor confirmed:

“The Colombian government has withdrawn the earlier statement. They now fully understand and support India’s position. We appreciate their cordiality and openness in addressing our concerns.”

Tharoor Confirms Withdrawal on Social Media

Dr. Tharoor took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share details of the diplomatic progress:

“This morning began with a productive meeting with Colombia’s Vice Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio and her senior Asia-Pacific officials.
I conveyed India’s disappointment over the 8 May statement expressing ‘deep sympathy’ for Pakistan.
The Minister confirmed that the statement has been withdrawn, and Colombia now fully understands and supports India’s stance.”

 India’s Diplomatic Strategy: Reinforcing Zero Tolerance on Terror

This episode highlights India’s firm approach on the global stage, emphasizing that there can be no moral equivalence between terrorism and counter-terror operations. Over the past few years, India has consistently:

• Called out global sympathy for Pakistan that overlooks the source of terrorism

• Sought to isolate Pakistan diplomatically over its failure to curb terror activities

• Used bilateral and multilateral platforms to emphasize its stance

 Delegation’s Americas Tour: A Broader Strategic Vision

The current diplomatic delegation, led by Shashi Tharoor, includes representatives from multiple Indian political parties. Their itinerary includes:

• Panama and Guyana (completed)

• Colombia (ongoing)

• Next stops: Brazil and the United States

The aim of the tour is to:

• Strengthen India’s diplomatic ties across Latin America

• Promote India’s counter-terrorism narrative internationally

• Counter pro-Pakistan narratives in foreign policy conversations

Why Colombia’s Position Matters

Though geographically distant, Colombia’s alignment with India or Pakistan carries symbolic value. Latin America is an emerging region in global diplomacy, and India’s engagement here is part of its broader Global South leadership strategy.

By persuading Colombia to revise its statement:

• India has sent a strong signal globally

• Demonstrated diplomatic agility and effectiveness

• Reinforced the moral argument against sympathizing with state-backed terrorism

 Summary: What Changed and Why It Matters

 India’s Foreign Policy Wins Another Round

This swift correction by Colombia is being seen as:

• A testament to India’s improved global influence

• A personal diplomatic success for Shashi Tharoor, who has long advocated India’s global positioning as a moral force

• A reflection of the effectiveness of parliamentary diplomacy, where multi-party consensus plays a role in strategic outreach

 Related Developments and Responses

• After visiting Ground Zero (9/11 Memorial) in the U.S., Tharoor remarked, “India will never back down in its fight against evil forces.”

• During the Colombia leg of the trip, Tharoor reiterated: “India and Pakistan are not equals. One defends, the other instigates.”