Putin Pledges Support to India Following Pahalgam Terror : Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to strongly denounce the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and assured India of Russia’s unwavering support in its fight against terrorism.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “President Putin conveyed his deepest condolences for the loss of innocent lives and expressed full solidarity with India in combating terrorism. He stressed that those responsible for this heinous act, along with their supporters, must be held accountable.”
The leaders also reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. During the call, Prime Minister Modi extended his greetings to President Putin on the 80th anniversary of Victory Day and invited him to visit India later this year for the Annual Summit.
The April 22 attack, described as one of the most horrifying incidents in the region in recent years, claimed the lives of 26 tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. Four heavily armed terrorists, including two identified as Pakistani nationals, emerged from the dense forest and opened fire indiscriminately on civilians.
Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with FM Lavrov of Russia yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.
Also spoke about our bilateral cooperation activities.
🇮🇳 🇷🇺
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 3, 2025
The conversation between Modi and Putin took place shortly before the Russian President is set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will visit Russia from May 7–10 and participate in Victory Day commemorations.
Later on Monday, the Kremlin issued a statement echoing Putin’s condemnation of the attack and expressing sincere condolences. It emphasized the shared resolve of both nations for an “uncompromising fight” against terrorism in all its manifestations. The Kremlin also reaffirmed the strength of the Russian-Indian strategic partnership, describing it as immune to external pressures and continuing to evolve dynamically.
🤝 PM Modi & President Putin hold talks.
PM Modi emphasizes that perpetrators of heinous attacks and their supporters must face justice.
Putin invites for Annual Summit in India. 🇮🇳🇷🇺#PMModi #Putin #India #Russia #Geopolitics pic.twitter.com/vjqCTBpiJy— The UnderLine (@TheUnderLineIN) May 5, 2025
Modi, in turn, congratulated the Russian people on the forthcoming Victory Day and confirmed India’s participation in the ceremonial events in Moscow. While he himself will not attend, an Indian representative will be present at the commemorations.
Putin had earlier conveyed his condolences in a written message to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi shortly after the Pahalgam attack, describing the incident as a “brutal crime” with no justification. He reiterated Russia’s readiness to deepen counterterrorism cooperation with India.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on May 2, discussing the recent escalation in Indian-Pakistani tensions in the aftermath of the attack. Lavrov underscored the need for a peaceful resolution through political and diplomatic dialogue, referencing the Simla Agreement (1972) and the Lahore Declaration (1999) as frameworks for such engagement.
|Also Read : Putin speaks to PM Modi, says perpetrators of Pahalgam attack must be brought to justice |
Following the conversation, Jaishankar wrote on X: “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with FM Lavrov of Russia yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice. Also spoke about our bilateral cooperation activities.”
Putin had previously invited Modi to attend the Victory Day celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2020. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has since confirmed that the Russian President is expected to visit India in early 2025, following an invitation from Modi as part of the ongoing tradition of annual summits between the two leaders.
The last such summit was held in New Delhi on December 6, 2021. Modi has made two official visits to Russia since then — for the 22nd India-Russia Summit in July and the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024 — underscoring the deepening bilateral engagement despite global geopolitical shifts.
(File photos)
