In a defining moment for India’s diplomatic counterterrorism narrative, Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor expressed profound disappointment with Colombia’s response to India’s anti-terror operations, declaring: “There can be no equivalence between those who dispatch terrorists and those who resist them” . This statement came during a high-stakes multiparty delegation visit to Bogotá, where Tharoor confronted Colombia’s controversial expression of sympathy for Pakistani casualties following Operation Sindoor.
The Catalyst: Colombia’s Controversial Condolences
The diplomatic friction emerged when Colombia’s government issued condolences for lives lost in Pakistan during India’s targeted counterstrikes, rather than expressing solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 Indians on April 22, 2025 . Tharoor, leading India’s delegation, minced no words: “We were a little disappointed in the reaction of the Colombian government, which apparently expressed heartfelt condolences on the loss of lives in Pakistan after the Indian strikes, rather than sympathising with the victims of terrorism” . He clarified that Colombia’s stance reflected a dangerous moral ambiguity in the global fight against terrorism.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Necessary Retaliation
Tharoor meticulously outlined the sequence justifying India’s actions:
- The Pahalgam attack was claimed by The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy operating from Muridke, Pakistan .
- Despite global condemnations, Pakistan took zero punitive action—no arrests, no prosecutions—against the perpetrators .
- On May 7, India executed precision strikes destroying nine terror launchpads and eleven Pakistani airbases, strictly as “retribution for a terrorist attack” .
“India decided that this kind of outrage could not go unpunished,” Tharoor stated, presenting photographic evidence of Pakistani military officials openly attending terrorists’ funerals as proof of state complicity .
Dispelling Misconceptions: The Core Diplomatic Mission
Tharoor positioned the delegation’s visit as corrective diplomacy: “If there is any misunderstanding here on this core, we are here to dispel any such misunderstanding” . He framed Colombia’s stance as potentially stemming from incomplete information, drawing parallels between both nations’ experiences: “Just as Colombia has endured many terror attacks, so have we in India. We have endured a very large number of attacks for almost four decades” . His appeal emphasized that India seeks global pressure on terror havens, not war: “We certainly hope that other governments will tell those who give safe haven and protection to terrorists to stop doing so” .
Broader Strategic Shifts: Beyond Operation Sindoor
The delegation simultaneously addressed India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a pivotal policy shift. Tharoor contextualized this as a response to Pakistan’s “repeated betrayal” of the treaty’s spirit of goodwill. “We have given Pakistan very generously the waters they are entitled to… But the time for acting unilaterally on goodwill is no longer with us,” he declared, confirming the treaty remains suspended until Pakistan demonstrates verifiable counterterrorism action .
Rejecting Mediation, Defining Sovereignty
Tharoor categorically dismissed speculation about third-party mediation in India-Pakistan tensions. While acknowledging calls from U.S., French, UAE, and Saudi officials, he clarified: “There was no sort of active process of mediation… Certainly nothing involving us” . He reiterated India’s position as the wronged party exercising legitimate self-defence: “We are not the belligerent power in this equation” .
The Geopolitical Subtext: China’s Role
Indirectly referencing China’s destabilizing regional influence, Tharoor highlighted that “China supplies 81% of all Pakistani military equipment” and finances the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor . This underscored the complex web of alliances India confronts in its counterterrorism efforts.
Conclusion: A Clarion Call for Moral Clarity
Tharoor’s Bogotá intervention transcends bilateral diplomacy. It represents India’s uncompromising demand that the world abandon false equivalences between terrorists and sovereign states protecting civilians. His delegation—comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, JMM, TDP, and LJP leaders—signals a rare political consensus on India’s right to self-defence . As nations like Colombia navigate complex global alliances, Tharoor’s challenge resonates universally: “Understanding is extremely important for us. We are a country which has really been a force for constructive progress in the world” . In the fight against terrorism, moral ambiguity is a luxury humanity cannot afford.