Putin Offers Full Support to India in Fight Against Terrorism After Pahalgam Attack
In a show of solidarity, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to “strongly condemn” the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists. The Russian leader conveyed his deepest condolences to India and expressed his full support in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
“He conveyed deepest condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed full support to India in the fight against terrorism. He emphasised that the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their supporters must be brought to justice,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The attack, which took place in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, was carried out by four heavily armed terrorists, including two Pakistani nationals. The assailants opened fire indiscriminately on tourists, resulting in widespread devastation. This brutal assault has been described as one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in the region in recent years.
During the call, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Modi also extended greetings to President Putin on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day and invited him to attend the Annual Summit to be held in India later this year.
President Putin had previously expressed his condolences on April 22, writing to both President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi regarding the terrorist attack, which also left several others critically injured. He condemned the attack as “a brutal crime” and assured India of Russia’s support in the fight against terrorism.
On May 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss the ongoing situation following the attack and the “aggravation of Indian-Pakistani relations.” Lavrov emphasized the importance of resolving differences between India and Pakistan through diplomatic means, in line with the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999.
This phone call between the two leaders came ahead of Russian President Putin’s scheduled meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is set to visit Russia from May 7-10. President Putin had earlier invited Prime Minister Modi to attend the 80th-anniversary celebrations of Victory Day in Moscow, but it has been confirmed that Modi will not be traveling to Russia for this occasion.
The bilateral cooperation between India and Russia continues to grow, with plans for an upcoming visit by President Putin to India in early 2025 as part of their ongoing commitment to meet annually. This visit is expected to further deepen cooperation between the two nations in various sectors, including defense, trade, and energy.
The ongoing partnership reflects the longstanding and robust relations between India and Russia, even in the face of regional and global challenges.
