India Secures Diplomatic Victory as Colombia Retracts Condolence Statement to Pakistan After Tharoor-Led Delegation’s Outreach

Bogotá: In a significant diplomatic win for India, Colombia on Friday (local time) officially withdrew its earlier statement offering condolences to Pakistan over the recent conflict, instead aligning itself with India’s position condemning terrorism. The development followed a high-level meeting between Colombian officials and a multi-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

The controversy arose from Colombia’s May 8 statement expressing “heartfelt condolences” to Pakistan, which was viewed by India as lacking sensitivity toward the victims of terrorism in Kashmir. The Tharoor-led delegation, currently touring Latin America, raised strong objections during their visit to Bogotá.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, clarified her country’s revised stance in a statement to ANI. She said,
“We are very confident with the explanation that we received today and the detailed information that we now have regarding the real situation, the conflict, and what happened in Kashmir, we can also continue the dialogue.”
Tharoor, who was present alongside Villavicencio during her remarks, appreciated Colombia’s course correction.
“The Vice Minister very graciously mentioned that they have withdrawn the statement that we had expressed concern about and that they fully understand our position on the matter, which is something we really value,” Tharoor said in response.

Taking to social media platform X after the meeting, Tharoor further elaborated on the dialogue.
“Began today with an excellent meeting with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, and her senior colleagues dealing with the Asia-Pacific. I expressed India’s view of recent events and voiced disappointment at Colombia’s statement on 8 May, conveying ‘heartfelt condolences’ to Pakistan. The Minister assured me that the statement had been withdrawn and that our position was now properly understood and strongly supported,” Tharoor wrote.

The Colombian Vice Minister was also briefed about the sequence of events—from the Pahalgam terror attack to India’s measured response under Operation Sindoor—during the meeting with the Indian delegation.