Bogotá [Colombia], May 31 (ANI): All-Party Delegation leader and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed satisfaction over the Colombian government’s decision to withdraw its earlier statement on India following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking during a conversation with the Colombian Council on International Relations (Cori) and select political analysts and diplomats at the Gun Club, Tharoor said Colombia initially did not fully understand India’s stance, but after discussions with the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government retracted its earlier position and pledged to publicly express solidarity with India.
“I’m very pleased to say that following our discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vice Minister announced that this statement has been withdrawn and that they will certainly express publicly their understanding and sympathy for our situation,” Tharoor said.
He added, “That mission is to reach out to people like you and communicate our point of view and our concerns about recent events in our country, which you have already alluded to — the terrorist attack on our country and our decisive response — which perhaps was not initially what they understood, as you alluded to the statement that was issued. We were very disappointed by that statement.”
Tharoor also highlighted Colombia’s objective to promote national consensus in foreign policy, noting that the Indian delegation reflects a similar unity despite its diverse representation. “I was struck by the fact that one of your objectives is to promote national consensus in foreign policy. I’m very pleased to say that our delegation represents our national consensus on foreign policy, and a very important issue of foreign policy, because of my seven MPs and two ambassadors I’m travelling with. I would say that seven MPs represent five political parties, seven different states in India, three religions, and yet we are all united in one mission,” he stated.
Leading a multi-party delegation on a tour of the Americas, Tharoor and his team arrived in Colombia on Thursday after visits to Panama and Guyana, aiming to reinforce India’s global outreach and zero-tolerance stance against terrorism. After concluding their visit to Colombia, the delegation will travel to Brazil and the United States.
Earlier on the day, Tharoor paid floral tribute to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Tadeo University in Bogotá. He posted on X, “Humbled to pay floral tribute at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Tadeo University in Bogotá today. A poignant moment reflecting on his enduring legacy of peace & non-violence, so relevant in our world. Grateful to the university for preserving his memory and values.”
Tharoor and the delegation also engaged with think tanks in Colombia, exchanging ideas on global geopolitics, India’s role in Latin America, and economic development opportunities. “Delightful lunch discussion with thought leaders at the Colombia Council for International Relations today. Engaging exchange of ideas on global geopolitics, India’s role in Latin America, and economic development opportunities for India and Colombia. Always enriching to connect with such influential minds,” he said.
In the broader context of Operation Sindoor and India’s ongoing fight against cross-border terrorism, seven All-Party Delegations are visiting key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council, to project India’s national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms. They carry the country’s firm message of zero tolerance toward terrorism.
In Sierra Leone, a delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, which includes BJP MP Atul Garg, BJD MP Sasmit Patra, Indian Union Muslim League’s ET Mohammed Basheer, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy, met with the Indian diaspora to diplomatically isolate and morally condemn Pakistan for its sustained support of terrorism. During a press interaction in Freetown, Shinde, along with BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj and SS Ahluwalia, highlighted India’s strategic response via Operation Sindoor while underscoring the global necessity to combat terrorism, especially following the Pahalgam terror attack.
“We are a peace-loving nation… Our Prime Ministers personally visited Pakistan and made a number of declarations… We always initiated peace talks with our neighbouring nation, Pakistan. But every time we were backstabbed by terrorist attacks… Our citizens don’t want war, but why did this Operation Sindoor happen? Because we were continuously attacked, and this time the attack was not on our citizens but on humanity… To defend our citizens and nation, we had to undertake this Operation Sindoor… But we only targeted terror camps,” Shinde stated. (ANI)
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