Colombia Revises Statement on Pakistan Following India's Diplomatic Efforts
Colombia's Shift in Stance
Bogota: In a notable achievement for India's diplomatic outreach aimed at highlighting Pakistan's actions and reinforcing its stance against terrorism, Colombia has retracted its previous statement expressing condolences for the loss of lives in Pakistan. This change comes after initial sympathy was shown towards Pakistan following the tragic events during Operation Sindoor.
During a press conference on Thursday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation in the Americas, voiced his disappointment regarding Colombia's earlier position. He emphasized that India felt let down by the Colombian government's condolences for the casualties in Pakistan, instead of extending sympathy to the victims of the terror attack in Pahalgam.
Tharoor's Disappointment with Colombia
Tharoor stated, "We were somewhat disheartened by the Colombian government's reaction, which seemed to prioritize condolences for Pakistan over acknowledging the victims of terrorism." He further clarified, "We must convey to our Colombian friends that there is no comparison between those who send terrorists and those who defend against them. Our actions are purely a matter of self-defense, and we aim to clear any misconceptions regarding this fundamental issue."
Colombia's Withdrawal of Statement
Following discussions with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, Tharoor expressed appreciation for Colombia's revised stance. He noted, "The Vice Minister kindly informed us that they have retracted the statement we were concerned about and that they now fully comprehend our position, which we greatly appreciate."
Tharoor tweeted about his productive meeting with Villavicencio, where he articulated India's perspective on recent developments and expressed dissatisfaction with Colombia's earlier statement from May 8, which conveyed condolences to Pakistan. The Minister assured him that the statement had been withdrawn and that India's position was now properly recognized and supported.
Tharoor's Diplomatic Mission Continues
#WATCH | Colombia officially withdraws its earlier statement that it issued expressing condolences on the loss of lives in Pakistan after the Indian strikes; earlier, Shashi Tharoor, who is leading the all-party delegation, raised concern and said – we (India) were a little… pic.twitter.com/iVFmLUl1yP
— Media Channel (@MediaChannel) May 30, 2025
Tharoor is at the helm of a multi-party delegation visiting the Americas. After stops in Panama and Guyana, the delegation arrived in Colombia on Thursday as part of India's global initiative to assert its zero tolerance towards terrorism. Following their visit to Colombia, the delegation is set to travel to Brazil and the United States on Saturday.