Colombia withdraws statement on Pakistan casualties after Indian diplomatic intervention
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In a diplomatic victory for India’s ongoing global campaign against terrorism, Colombia has retracted its earlier statement expressing sympathy for Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, after objections were raised by India.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation to Latin America, voiced disappointment with Colombia's initial reaction during a press conference in Bogotá on Thursday. He noted that Colombia's message of condolence over Pakistani casualties failed to acknowledge the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We were a little disappointed in the reaction of the Colombian government, which apparently expressed heartfelt condolences on the loss of lives in Pakistan after the Indian strikes, rather than sympathising with the victims of terrorism,” said Tharoor.
He firmly conveyed India's stance, stating, “We will say to our friends in Colombia, there can be no equivalence between those who dispatch terrorists and those who resist them. There can be no equivalence between those who attack and those who defend. We are only exercising our right of self-defence, and if there is any misunderstanding here, on this core, we are here to dispel any such misunderstanding.”
Following a meeting with Colombia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, the Indian delegation received reassurance that the Colombian government had reviewed and withdrawn the contentious statement.
Speaking to ANI after the meeting, Villavicencio acknowledged that Colombia now had “detailed information” on the Kashmir situation and would continue to engage in dialogue.
Tharoor welcomed Colombia’s updated position, saying, “The Vice Minister very graciously mentioned that they have withdrawn the statement that we had expressed concern about and that they fully understand our position on the matter, which is something we really value.”
He also tweeted: “Began today with an excellent meeting with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, and her senior colleagues dealing with the Asia-Pacific. I expressed India's view of recent events and voiced disappointment at Colombia's statement on 8 May, conveying 'heartfelt condolences' to Pakistan. The Minister assured me that the statement had been withdrawn and that our position was now properly understood and strongly supported.”
The Indian delegation, having completed visits to Panama and Guyana, arrived in Colombia on Thursday. They are scheduled to continue their diplomatic mission in Brazil and the United States, as part of India’s broader effort to reinforce its zero-tolerance stance on terrorism at the international level.