Colombia Withdraws Condolence Statement to Pakistan After India Briefing

Colombia has retracted a statement expressing condolences for Pakistani casualties following India’s military strikes, after an Indian parliamentary delegation clarified the circumstances surrounding the incident during a diplomatic visit to Bogotá.

The reversal came after an all-party Indian delegation, led by Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, met Colombian officials to explain New Delhi’s stance on terrorism and the events leading up to Operation Sindoor, India’s targeted military response to a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Colombia’s Vice Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio confirmed the retraction during a meeting with the Indian representatives in the capital city.

“We are very confident that with the explanation that we received today and the detailed information that we now have regarding the real situation, the conflict, and what happened in Kashmir, we can also continue the dialogue and be aware of what is happening,” Villavicencio said.

India had lodged concern over Colombia’s earlier statement, which had extended condolences to Pakistan following casualties from India’s precision airstrikes. The strikes were conducted on 7 May in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April that killed 26 people, including several tourists.

Shashi Tharoor expressed satisfaction with the Colombian government’s decision to revise its stance.

“We’re very pleased to learn that the statement has been withdrawn,” he said. “There can be no equivalence between those who dispatch terrorists and those who resist them. We are only exercising our right of self-defence.”

Tharoor’s comments echoed similar remarks from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya, who said, “There can be no equivalence between those who attack and those who defend. We reaffirmed India’s position on terrorism and expressed disappointment over Colombia’s earlier response.”

The Indian delegation includes parliamentarians from multiple parties: Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Shambhavi (LJP), GM Harish Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani (BJP), and former Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

The team has already visited Guyana and Panama and is scheduled to travel next to Brazil and the United States as part of a broader diplomatic outreach to present India’s position on cross-border terrorism and its policy of zero tolerance.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu stated that Colombia’s change of position followed a comprehensive briefing from the Indian side. “We explained the timeline and the details they may have missed earlier. The result was a reversal of their statement and a clearer stand on the issue of terrorism,” he said.

BJP MP Shashank Mani underlined the relevance of Colombia’s own history with armed conflict. “It is notable that terrorism has affected Colombia as well. We have come here with a message of peace, but also clarity that India will respond firmly to acts of terror,” he said.

Colombia, which is expected to take a seat on the United Nations Security Council, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years after decades of armed conflict involving guerrilla groups. Indian officials expressed hope that Colombia’s own experience with terrorism would foster greater understanding of New Delhi’s position.

India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, targeting nine suspected terrorist installations in Pakistan-administered territory. The strikes followed the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.

In retaliation, Pakistani forces attempted to strike Indian military bases on 8, 9, and 10 May. According to Indian officials, these attempts were repelled, resulting in heavy damage to Pakistani military infrastructure, including radar systems, command centres, and air defence systems.

India maintains that the action was a necessary and proportionate response to terrorism originating from across the border.

The multi-nation visit by Indian parliamentarians is part of a strategic initiative to engage international partners on India’s counter-terrorism policy.

The Colombian episode underscores the challenges of international perception when dealing with rapidly unfolding geopolitical events, particularly in conflict zones like Kashmir.

Indian officials stressed that their mission is to dispel misinformation and garner support for India’s long-standing claim that its military actions are defensive and in response to terrorism, not acts of aggression.

“We are pleased that Colombia, after understanding the full context, now stands with us for peace and sovereignty,” Tharoor told reporters.

The delegation is expected to continue its discussions on regional security and counter-terrorism policy as it proceeds to Brazil and then to the United States.