On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "strongly condemned" the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam that resulted in loss of lives. Putin offered "full support" to India in its continued fight against terrorism.
Putin, in the call, conveyed his deepest condolences for the loss of lives in the attack and reiterated that those who were behind the heinous act, as well as their sympathizers, should be brought to justice. "He extended deepest condolences for the loss of innocent lives and pledged unqualified support to India in its struggle against terrorism," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated. He also added that the two leaders reconfirmed their intention to deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Modi also wished President Putin ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebration next year and invited him to the Annual Summit in India later this year.
The devastating Pahalgam attack took place on April 22, when four terrorists, two of them from Pakistan, fired at a group of tourists in the Baisaran Valley, killing 26 individuals and injuring several others. The attack has been labeled as one of the most terrifying in the area in recent times.
The call on Monday occurred just before President Putin's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will visit Russia from May 7-10 for celebrations to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. Prime Minister Modi was also invited to join the festivities but will not be going to Russia.
Earlier, President Putin had expressed his condolences to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi in a letter, denouncing the attack. "This outrageous crime has absolutely no justification," Putin had said. "We hope that its organisers and perpetrators will receive an appropriate punishment."
On May 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also called India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The two leaders talked about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after the attack and the need to address differences through political and diplomatic means, as defined in the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999.
In reaction to the attack, Jaishankar tweeted on X that the two leaders were unanimous that the perpetrators of the attack, those who planned it, and those who supported it should be brought to justice.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has recently confirmed that President Putin will make an early 2025 visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. The visit will be a part of the current tradition of regular annual visits by the two leaders, with the previous visit having been on December 6, 2021, during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Modi also visited Russia twice in 2022, first as a guest to the 22nd Russia-India Summit held in July and secondly to the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October.
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