Colombia retracts condolences to Pakistan after Indian diplomatic push

In a significant diplomatic reversal, Colombia has withdrawn an earlier statement of condolence to Pakistan following India’s Operation Sindoor — a counter-terror strike launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 Indian civilians.

The move comes after concerted efforts by an Indian all-party parliamentary delegation, currently in Bogotá, to recalibrate international perceptions of the Kashmir conflict.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading the Indian delegation, confirmed the development on Saturday. “There is no equivalence possible between terrorists and innocent civilians,” he asserted. “Our disappointment with the original Colombian statement was that it seemed to ignore this vital distinction. We’re pleased that Colombia has recognized this and withdrawn the message.”

The original statement from Colombia expressed “heartfelt condolences over the loss of lives in Pakistan,” in the aftermath of India’s sustained military response across the Line of Control, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation concluded with a ceasefire agreement on May 10.

Tharoor, who had voiced his discontent publicly on Friday, noted that the Colombian government’s shift followed a detailed diplomatic exchange. During a high-level meeting, Colombia’s Vice Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio acknowledged the complexity of the conflict and hinted at a reassessment. “With the explanation we received today and the detailed information now available, we can continue the dialogue,” she said.

The Indian delegation included representatives across the political spectrum — Tejasvi Surya (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Shambhavi (LJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), GM Harish Balayogi (TDP), and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Their unified stance proved instrumental in reshaping Colombia’s initial narrative.

Surya praised the Colombian government’s willingness to listen and act. “The Vice Minister and other authorities saw merit in our arguments and were gracious in retracting their earlier statement. They expressed full sympathy and understanding with India’s position.”

In a media briefing, Tharoor emphasized India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism and reiterated the precision objectives of Operation Sindoor. The delegation also met with Colombia’s former president César Gaviria, now leader of the Liberal Party — the largest bloc in the Colombian National Assembly. “He was strongly supportive of India’s fight against terrorism and undertook to say so publicly,” Tharoor posted on X.

India’s assertive diplomacy in Latin America appears to be yielding results — reframing global narratives around South Asia’s most volatile flashpoint, and making a case for moral clarity in the face of transnational terrorism.