Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has expressed his disappointment over Colombia’s response to India’s recent military operation, Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 Indian lives.
Speaking in Bogotá, Tharoor emphasised the need for a better understanding of the context behind India’s actions.
India was taken aback when the Colombian government extended condolences for the loss of lives in Pakistan after the Indian airstrikes, without acknowledging the victims of terrorism. Tharoor noted, “We were a little disappointed… perhaps the situation was not fully understood when that statement was made.”
Tharoor clarified that India’s actions were defensive, not aggressive, aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure supported from across the border. “We hope governments around the world will tell those harbouring terrorists to stop doing so,” he added, hinting at Pakistan without directly naming it.
“We told our friends in Colombia: there can be no equivalence between those who dispatch terrorists and those who resist them,” Tharoor said. “Understanding is extremely important for us.”
He further stressed that the purpose of the visit was to eliminate any misunderstanding. “We are very happy to talk in detail with Colombian officials about the circumstances,” he noted.
Tharoor also revealed concrete evidence connecting the Pahalgam attack to The Resistance Front, a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, operating from Muridke, Pakistan. He drew parallels between India and Colombia’s shared history of fighting terrorism, saying, “Just as Colombia has endured many terror attacks, so have we in India — for nearly four decades.”
The Indian delegation, led by Tharoor, is part of a broader foreign outreach effort following Operation Sindoor. The operation was launched after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which India believes was orchestrated by groups operating from Pakistani soil.
The delegation plans to engage further with Colombian officials to clarify India’s position and ensure continued diplomatic cooperation on matters related to global security and terrorism.
