Did Shashi Tharoor's Delegation Make a Significant Impact During Their Colombia Visit?

Bogota (Colombia), June 1 (NationPress) An all-party Parliamentary delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, has left Colombia for Brazil following a successful and meaningful visit. This journey was part of India’s initiatives under Operation Sindoor, aimed at engaging with partner nations to emphasize its strong position against cross-border terrorism and a zero-tolerance policy towards terror.

The Indian Embassy in Colombia stated that India’s unwavering dedication to combating terrorism in all its forms was expressed unequivocally, asserting that Operation Sindoor exemplifies India's zero-tolerance stance—there can be no harmony between terror and dialogue, nor between commerce and violence.

“The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by MP Shashi Tharoor, has departed Colombia after a successful and meaningful visit. India’s steadfast commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms was conveyed in the clearest terms. Operation Sindoor stands as proof of India's zero-tolerance approach—there can be no coexistence between terror and dialogue, between trade and bloodshed,” the Indian Embassy in Colombia stated on the social media platform X.

On Friday, the Indian Embassy in Colombia shared another post on X where Indian Ambassador Vanlalhuma organized a reception for the visiting all-party Parliamentary Delegation. Members engaged with the Indian diaspora and Colombian citizens, reiterating India's firm stance against terrorism and outlining new strategies to combat cross-border terror.

Besides Shashi Tharoor, the delegation included MPs such as Shambhavi from the Lok Janshakti Party, Sarfraz Ahmad from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, GM Harish Balayogi from the Telugu Desam Party, Shashank Mani Tripathi from the BJP, Milind Murli Deora from the Shiv Sena, Bhubaneswar Kalita from the BJP, Tejasvi Surya from the BJP, accompanied by Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who arrived in Colombia on May 26 evening as part of the Indian government's comprehensive diplomatic efforts under Operation Sindoor.

Earlier on Friday, Tharoor expressed on his official X account, “The only route to peace is for Pakistan to cease its terrorist activities and for those identified as perpetrators of such acts, which have caused only death and destruction, to be held accountable.”

BJP MP Bhubaneswar Kalita, part of the all-party delegation led by Tharoor, mentioned on X: “India's all-party delegation continues its global outreach to create consensus against #terrorism. In #Colombia, we engaged in meaningful discussions with key leaders of the National Congress who voiced strong support for India’s sovereignty and firm position against terrorism.”

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora shared on X, “Our visit to #Colombia concluded positively with a delightful reception hosted by Indian Ambassador Vanlalhuma and his gracious wife in #Bogota. I finally reunited with my close friend Simon Gaviria Munoz, who has been incredibly supportive throughout our visit. A true friend of India! India-Colombia #OperationSindoor.

On Friday, Colombia's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio stated that her country was retracting its unintentional statement extending condolences over the deaths in Pakistan from 'Operation Sindoor', as noted by Congress MP Tharoor, who is at the helm of the Parliamentary delegation.

Tharoor mentioned to the media after their meeting on Friday, “The vice minister graciously stated they have retracted the statement we expressed concern about, and they completely understand our position on the matter, which we genuinely appreciate.”

Tharoor had earlier expressed his disappointment regarding Colombia's statement that seemed to suggest a false equivalency between the terrorists eliminated by 'Operation Sindoor' and their victims in Pahalgam.

With Tharoor present, Villavicencio stated, “We are confident that following the clarifications we received today and with the comprehensive information we now possess concerning the actual situation in Kashmir, we can proceed and sustain dialogue.”

Communicating the repercussions of terrorism to Colombia, a nation that has endured its own suffering, is crucial as it is anticipated to secure a seat on the UN Security Council next year, running unopposed for the Latin American seat in the upcoming election.

During a meeting with Colombian media on Thursday, Tharoor expressed that India was “somewhat disappointed by the Colombian government's reaction, which seemingly expressed heartfelt condolences regarding the loss of life in Pakistan following the Indian strikes, rather than showing empathy for the victims of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Rather than resisting criticism, Colombia promptly acknowledged India's concerns regarding the statement made without a complete understanding of the situation, and took steps to rectify it.

In preparation for retracting Colombia's statement on Pakistan, former President Cesar Augusto Gaviria Trujillo, a leader of the largest party in Congress, remarked on Thursday, “Colombia stands in solidarity with India. We combat all forms of terrorism, and be assured that under any circumstances, we will be on your side.”

The delegation has made progress in fostering a nuanced understanding of the events following the Pahalgam massacre conducted by The Resistance Front, an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Toiba based in Pakistan and supported by it, and the rationale behind 'Operation Sindoor'.