Shashi Tharoor Expresses Disappointment Over Colombia’s Response to India’s Counter-Terror Operation

 Bogotá, May 30, 2025 — Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor on Thursday voiced his disappointment with the Colombian government’s response to India's recent counter-terror operation, Operation Sindoor, stating unequivocally that “there can be no equivalence between those who attack and those who defend.”

Tharoor's remarks followed Colombia’s expression of condolences for casualties in Pakistan after Indian retaliatory strikes on May 7. Speaking at a press briefing attended by local media in Bogotá, Tharoor clarified India’s position and called for a clearer understanding of the context surrounding the operation.

“We were a little disappointed by the Colombian government’s reaction, which appeared to express heartfelt condolences for the loss of lives in Pakistan following India's counter-strikes, rather than standing in solidarity with the victims of terrorism,” said Tharoor, as reported by news agency ANI.

Tharoor is leading an Indian parliamentary delegation to Latin America as part of a global diplomatic outreach aimed at countering misinformation and building international consensus against cross-border terrorism. The delegation arrived in Colombia after concluding official visits to Panama and Guyana.

Reiterating India’s right to self-defence, Tharoor emphasized that the military action followed the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, for which responsibility was claimed by The Resistance Front, an affiliate of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

“There can be no moral or political equivalence between those who sponsor terrorism and those who respond to it. India acted in self-defence, in accordance with international law, following a heinous act of terror,” Tharoor stated. “If there is any misunderstanding regarding this context, we are here to clarify and dispel it.”

The Congress MP suggested that Colombia’s initial reaction may have stemmed from an incomplete understanding of the circumstances. He urged governments worldwide to call on Pakistan to cease providing safe havens to terrorist organisations.

“Understanding the full context is essential. We hope that governments, including Colombia, will recognise the reality — that harbouring terrorists is a direct threat to international peace. It would be helpful if this is clearly communicated both within the United Nations Security Council and beyond,” Tharoor added.

Drawing parallels with Colombia’s own history of battling terrorism, Tharoor acknowledged the country’s struggle and reiterated that India too has endured decades of persistent terrorist attacks.

Tharoor also drew attention to Pakistan’s growing military dependency on China, noting that 81 percent of Pakistan’s defence equipment originates from China. “Let us be frank: a significant portion of this equipment is not intended for defence but for offensive use. Every country has the right to arm itself, but when those arms are used to fuel terrorism, it becomes an international concern,” he said.

He further raised concerns over China’s increasing geopolitical footprint in the region, referencing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — the flagship project under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Tharoor noted that while India respects Pakistan’s sovereign right to pursue development, it objects to the continued use of Pakistani soil for launching terrorist attacks against India.

Tharoor’s reference to China’s BRI was particularly significant given Colombia’s recent decision, announced on May 14, to formally join the initiative. The move aligns Colombia with China’s growing network of global infrastructure and trade partnerships and signals deepening ties between Bogotá and Beijing.

While acknowledging Colombia’s right to pursue international development partnerships, Tharoor cautioned against overlooking the broader implications of strategic alignments, particularly in the context of regional and global security.

“Our concern is not with development or infrastructure. Our concern is with the perpetration and export of terrorism,” he said.

The visit is part of India’s continued efforts to strengthen global awareness of the threats posed by state-sponsored terrorism and to ensure international responses are rooted in principle, not parity.