Bogota: A high-level Indian parliamentary delegation visiting Colombia has voiced its dismay after the Colombian government offered condolences for Pakistani casualties linked to India’s counter-terror operation—rather than standing in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. The delegation, led by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, visited Colombia on May 29 to brief officials about Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory military campaign targeting terrorist infrastructure across the border in Pakistan.

During formal discussions, Colombian authorities extended sympathy for lives lost in Pakistan during the operation, but notably failed to acknowledge or condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam that triggered the Indian response. This perceived indifference to the victims of terrorism left the Indian delegation disheartened.

Reacting sharply, Shashi Tharoor denounced the Colombian statement, stressing that there can be no moral equivalence between a nation exercising its right to self-defense and one that harbors and exports terror. “We are deeply disappointed by Colombia’s position. Expressing sympathy for those who send terrorists, instead of standing with the victims, is a grave misjudgment,” he said.

Tharoor further pointed out that India's military action was a measured and justified response to relentless aggression. “India merely defended itself, and we’re open to an informed dialogue about our security challenges with Colombia. Just as Colombia has endured violent extremism, India has been combating terrorism for over forty years,” he added.

Highlighting the threat posed by Pakistan, Tharoor emphasized that the term "defense" has lost meaning in Islamabad's context. “Pakistan doesn’t use arms for defense—it uses them for offense. It is no coincidence that 81% of its military supplies come from China,” he remarked, underlining the nexus between state-sponsored terror and foreign support.

The Indian delegation’s visit was part of a larger diplomatic outreach aimed at building international consensus against cross-border terrorism and exposing the role of state actors like Pakistan in perpetuating regional instability.