Colombia Withdraws Support for Pakistan, Backs India’s Stance on Terrorism
Colombia has retracted a previous statement supporting Pakistan, opting to support India’s position on terrorism. This shift follows detailed talks led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is heading an all-party delegation. The engagement highlights India’s aim to strengthen its global stance against terrorism amid ongoing diplomatic outreach efforts.
In a notable diplomatic shift, Colombia has withdrawn a previously issued statement that expressed sympathy for Pakistan on lives lost during recent conflicts. This decision was revealed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is presently leading an all-party delegation in Colombia. At a press conference, Tharoor mentioned that the Foreign Ministry has pledged strong support for India’s position, addressing earlier concerns regarding Colombia’s stance on terrorism.
Tharoor noted the heartening news during his comments in front of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, elaborating on the significance of this change. “We met with the Foreign Ministry – the Senior Vice Minister received us. They have withdrawn their statement that disappointed us earlier and will issue a statement of strong support for our position,” Tharoor stated. His remarks aim to highlight India’s efforts in redefining its international relations, particularly in its stance against terrorism.
The reversal in Colombia’s position seems to stem from detailed discussions held by the Indian delegation with Colombian officials. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, former Indian Ambassador to the United States and a leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), emphasized that the delegation’s thorough explanation of events appears to have clarified any misunderstandings regarding the current timeline surrounding terrorism issues, with particular focus on recent events relating to Pakistan and India.
In an interview, Sandhu remarked, “This morning we had a detailed interaction with the acting Foreign Minister… The result was that they are withdrawing one of the statements that had come out and have promised… on terrorism and the issue.” He highlighted the importance of Colombia, noting its impending membership in the Security Council, raising hopes for continued cooperation on international terrorism.
BJP MP Shashank Mani expressed a sense of progress, noting that Colombia, once facing its own battles with terrorism, now recognizes the nuances of India’s fight against it. “It is notable that terrorism has affected Colombia as well. However, after a long struggle, Colombia is now a peaceful country,” Mani added, emphasizing India’s message of peace and its commitment to responding to terrorism resolutely.
This diplomatic effort comes at a pivotal time as India continues its global outreach to counter Pakistan’s narratives on terrorism. Tharoor’s delegation aims to foster understanding, especially after his earlier disappointment regarding Colombia’s sympathetic statement towards Pakistan following Indian operations.
Reflecting on this earlier sentiment, Tharoor noted, “We were a little disappointed in the reaction of the Colombian government… rather than sympathising with the victims of terrorism.” He asserted the need to clarify to Colombia that there is no equivalence between perpetrators of terrorism and those who defend against it. “We are only exercising our right of self-defence,” he emphasized during his press conference.
Following a strong engagement with Colombian Foreign Affairs Vice Minister, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, Tharoor expressed confidence about the dialogue. He remarked, “We are very confident with the explanation that we received… regarding the real situation, the conflict, and what happened in Kashmir.” The response signals a more nuanced understanding from Colombia regarding the complexities facing India.
As Tharoor leads this multi-party delegation through its Americas tour, which also includes stops in Brazil and the United States, the withdrawal of the Colombian statement is being hailed as a victory for India’s diplomatic efforts against terrorism.
Colombia’s withdrawal of its earlier statement sympathetic to Pakistan represents a significant diplomatic shift in response to India’s concerns regarding terrorism. The Indian delegation’s thorough discussions led to a clearer understanding between the two nations. With further engagement planned in Brazil and the US, these developments underline India’s efforts to strengthen its international image in the fight against terrorism, seeking solidarity from nations like Colombia.
Original Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
