- Putin, Modi underscored need for ‘uncompromising fight against terrorism in all its manifestations,’ according to Kremlin
NEW DELHI / ISTANBUL
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday condemned the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 people dead, a statement from New Delhi said.
Putin, in a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “conveyed deepest condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed full support to India in the fight against terrorism,” Indian External Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a brief statement on X.
The Russian president “emphasized that the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their supporters must be brought to justice,” Jaiswal added.
Meanwhile, according to a readout of the phone call released by the Kremlin, Putin expressed his “condolences” over the attack in Kashmir, saying both sides underscored the need for an “uncompromising fight against terrorism in all its manifestations.”
The phone call comes as tensions are running high between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan.
New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack, saying it had “cross-border links.” Islamabad denied and instead offered a neutral probe with third-party monitoring.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts.
Emphasizing the resolution of disputes through “political and diplomatic means,” Lavrov expressed Moscow’s “readiness to contribute to a political settlement of the situation” triggered by the Pahalgam attack “should both Islamabad and New Delhi be interested,” according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
In recent days, many countries, including the US, have contacted officials in both New Delhi and Islamabad in their attempts to ease tensions.
Putin and Modi also discussed the upcoming celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, the Soviet Union’s 1945 victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. New Delhi will be represented by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh during the event on May 9 in Moscow.
The two leaders underlined that their strategic bilateral ties are “not subject to external influence and continue to develop dynamically in all areas,” the Kremlin said.
