Colombia Reverses Stand on Pakistan Deaths, Will Back India's Anti-Terror Position

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi, May 31 — In a diplomatic about-turn, Colombia has withdrawn its earlier statement condoling deaths in Pakistan following India’s counter-terror strikes on May 7, and will now issue a statement expressing strong support for India's position on terrorism. This development comes in the wake of outreach by a multi-party Indian parliamentary delegation currently visiting the South American nation.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading the delegation, confirmed the reversal, stating, “They have withdrawn their statement that disappointed us earlier and will issue a statement of strong support for our position.” His remarks followed an earlier expression of concern over Colombia’s initial reaction, which had failed to differentiate between perpetrators of terrorism and those exercising the right to self-defence.

The delegation’s intervention, led by Tharoor and including senior leaders from across political parties, was instrumental in reshaping Colombia’s understanding of the events surrounding Operation Sindoor — India’s retaliatory strike against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, conducted in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu, former Indian Ambassador to the U.S. and BJP leader, credited the reversal to a thorough briefing. “We had a detailed interaction with the acting Foreign Minister, explaining the timeline and strategic context of the operation,” Sandhu said. Colombia’s Vice Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio added that with the “detailed information” now provided, Colombia is confident about continuing constructive dialogue with India.

Tharoor reiterated that equating victims of terror with its perpetrators is unjustified. “Just as Colombia has endured terror attacks, so have we in India — for nearly four decades. We are only exercising our right of self-defence,” he said.

The delegation, comprising MPs from the BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, TDP, and JMM, is part of a broader diplomatic campaign involving seven Indian teams visiting 33 capitals to present India’s case globally following the Pahalgam massacre and subsequent military escalation with Pakistan.