Kumar Bahukhandi
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor – Photo: x-@ShashiTharoor
After India’s Operation Sindoor, Colombia had expressed sympathy for the loss of life and property in Pakistan. When the Indian all-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi went to Colombia and informed the officials there about Pakistan’s terrorist activities, Colombia later withdrew its statement in support of Pakistan.
India’s tough stand against terrorism at the global level and efforts to expose Pakistan have got a significant success. The all-party parliamentary delegation led by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor exposed Pakistan in Colombia. Colombia had earlier expressed sympathy for the loss of life and property in Pakistan in its statement, but after objections were raised by Shashi Tharoor, it has withdrawn its statement.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed dissatisfaction over the situation in Colombia during a press conference in Bogota on Thursday. He said that India was disappointed that the Colombian government expressed condolences over the loss in Pakistan, whereas they should have expressed sympathy to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Shashi Tharoor said that we were a little disappointed with the reaction of the Colombian government, which expressed heartfelt condolences on the loss of life and property in Pakistan after the Indian attacks, instead of showing sympathy to the victims of terrorism. He further said that we want to tell our Colombian friends that there can be no similarity between those who spread terrorism and those who fight them. We are just exercising the right of self-defence and if there is any misunderstanding on this issue, we are here to clear it.
The Indian delegation explained India’s position to Colombia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, following which Colombia withdrew its statement in support of Pakistan. Appreciating Colombia’s stance in understanding India’s position, Tharoor said that the Deputy Foreign Minister very gracefully said that they have withdrawn the statement that we were concerned about, and now they fully understand our position, which we attach great importance to.
Tharoor tweeted, “Today began with an excellent meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio and her senior colleagues on Asia-Pacific affairs. I explained India’s view on recent events and expressed disappointment over the statement expressing ‘condolences’ to Pakistan on 8 May. The Minister assured that the statement has been withdrawn and India’s position is now properly understood and strongly supported.”
Shashi Tharoor said that we attach great importance to our relations with BRICS, of which we are a founding member. We are also very much involved in the development of countries in the Global South developing world. Both Colombia and India are members of the Global South and as far as India is concerned, we would like to move forward together on the adventure of development and progress.
