Shashi Tharoor Disappointed by Colombia’s Stance on Operation Sindoor; China Link Suspected

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, currently on a diplomatic outreach visit to Colombia, expressed disappointment over the South American nation’s reaction to India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist camps across the border. Colombia had offered condolences to Pakistan over the loss of lives, a move that India interpreted as sympathy for terrorists.

Addressing the press in Bogotá, Tharoor stated, “There can be no equivalence between those who dispatch terrorists and those who resist them. We are here to dispel such misunderstandings.” He underscored that India’s strike was a justified response to the Pahalgam terror attack, aimed solely at dismantling terror infrastructure.

Colombia’s stance has raised eyebrows in Indian diplomatic circles, particularly given the country’s recent pivot towards China, Pakistan’s strategic ally. Earlier this month, Colombia signed a joint cooperation plan under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), indicating a shift in its geopolitical leanings amid strained ties with the U.S.

With China now Colombia’s growing trade partner and a potential supplier of Chengdu J-10CE fighter jets, the alignment with Pakistan’s narrative is seen by some analysts as influenced by Beijing’s strategic interests.

Congress spokesperson Asma Tasleem questioned the government’s foreign policy, saying, “What is happening in diplomacy when even a country like Colombia sides with Pakistan?”

India has reaffirmed that Operation Sindoor targeted terrorists alone and was a legitimate act of self-defence, much like Colombia’s own history of combating terrorism