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India Scores Diplomatic Win as Colombia Retracts Statement on Pakistan
India notched a key diplomatic victory after Colombia walked back a statement that had drawn sharp criticism from New Delhi. The South American nation had earlier expressed condolences for lives lost in Pakistan, which India viewed as insensitive given the context of terrorism-related violence on its own soil.
The retraction came after a high-level meeting between Colombia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, and an Indian delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. The delegation, currently touring the Americas, includes members from across the political spectrum: Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Shambhavi (LJP), GM Harish Balayogi (TDP), former Indian envoy to the U.S. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya.
Speaking after the discussion, Vice Minister Villavicencio said Colombia was now better informed about the situation in Kashmir and was keen to continue dialogue with India. “We are very confident with the explanation we received today and the detailed information we now have regarding the real situation, the conflict, and what happened in Kashmir,” she told to News Agency.
Tharoor welcomed the move, calling it a “gracious and valued” gesture. “The Vice Minister very graciously mentioned that they have withdrawn the statement we had expressed concern about and that they fully understand our position,” he said.
He later took to social media to share more details. “Began today with an excellent meeting with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia… I expressed India’s view and voiced disappointment at Colombia’s 8 May statement offering ‘heartfelt condolences’ to Pakistan. The Minister assured me the statement had been withdrawn and that our position is now properly understood and strongly supported,” Tharoor posted on X.
The Indian delegation had arrived in Colombia on Thursday after earlier stops in Panama and Guyana. The multi-nation tour is part of India’s wider diplomatic outreach aimed at building global consensus against terrorism.
