India defends its counter-terror operation, urges Colombia to understand its stance on self-defence after Pahalgam attack.

Bogotá, Colombia — May 30, 2025:
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, part of a seven-member all-party Indian delegation, expressed disappointment over Colombia’s recent reaction to India’s counter-terrorism action on May 7. Speaking to the media in Bogotá, Tharoor said there can be “no equivalence between those who attack and those who defend.”

Tharoor was referring to Colombia’s message of condolence to Pakistan for the loss of lives after India carried out Operation Sindoor, a precision strike targeting nine terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation came after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 innocent people.

“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,” Tharoor said.

He added, “We are only exercising our right of self-defence. There can be no equivalence between those who dispatch terrorists and those who resist them.”

India’s Firm Stand on Terrorism

Tharoor stated that India has clear and concrete evidence linking the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan-based terror groups. “The Resistance Front, a unit of Lashkar-e-Taiba operating from Muridke in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack,” he explained.

India’s response under Operation Sindoor was not only swift but strategic. Along with destroying nine terror camps, the Indian Air Force also took action on May 8, 9, and 10, destroying 11 Pakistani airbases used for attempted retaliatory strikes.

“No arrests were made by Pakistan, and no effort was taken to prosecute the attackers,” Tharoor said. “India had no choice but to act. This kind of outrage could not go unpunished.”

Mission: Clarify, Not Confront

Tharoor clarified that the purpose of the Indian delegation’s visit to Colombia is to strengthen diplomatic ties and provide a clearer understanding of India’s position. He even showed Colombian officials photographs of Pakistani military officers attending the funerals of terrorists, a move aimed at underlining the link between Pakistan’s armed forces and terrorism.

“If there is any misunderstanding, we are here to clear it. We want to share the truth behind India’s actions,” he said. “India values its relationship with Colombia, and it is important our friends here know the full story.”

Global Message Against Terrorism

India’s message to the international community is simple: terrorism cannot be tolerated, and nations have the right to defend themselves. Tharoor urged global leaders to stand with the victims of terror rather than those who shelter terrorists.

“Sympathy must be shown to victims, not perpetrators. That’s what we are trying to explain here in Colombia,” he concluded.