New Delhi, April 29 (NationPress) Egypt's Ambassador to India, Kamel Zayed Galal, described the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 innocent civilians as an intolerable act against India, which has provoked strong outrage from Egypt and its government.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, the Ambassador stressed the necessity of global collaboration to combat terrorist groups.

"Terrorism is a worldwide issue. It necessitates comprehensive cooperation among nations to effectively confront such organizations, as terrorism transcends borders. A holistic strategy is essential to tackle the political, security, social, and economic aspects of these challenges," stated Galal.

When asked about the involvement of Pakistani terrorists confirming the victims' religion before attacking in Pahalgam, the diplomat remarked that the incident was an attack on all Indians, asserting that Egypt perceives this act of terrorism as an intolerable assault on innocent civilians in India.

"Ultimately, terrorism is terrorism. The victims were Indian civilians, irrespective of their religious beliefs. Religion is not a significant factor here; we advocate for a nation-state perspective. It is crucial for all citizens of India to view this attack as a grievous act against Indians," he added.

The Ambassador extended Egypt's solidarity with India, acknowledging the challenging circumstances and reaffirming that Egypt will always support India during such trying times.

"I want to express our deepest condolences to the leadership, government, and the people of India for the tragic loss of 26 lives in the terror attack. We understand the anguish; it has angered both Egypt and the Egyptian government. We hope for a cessation of terrorism," he stated.

Moreover, the Ambassador mentioned that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had communicated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reached out to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to express condolences and solidarity following the Pahalgam attack.

The devastating assault on April 22 claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists and left several others severely injured, occurring in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. Four heavily armed terrorists, two of whom were from Pakistan, emerged from the nearby dense forests and opened fire on the targeted tourists. This incident has been labeled as one of the most horrific attacks in the region's recent history.

Sisi, during his call with PM Modi, unequivocally condemned the terror attack and reiterated that his nation stands "shoulder to shoulder" with India in the fight against terrorism.

He conveyed heartfelt condolences for the loss of precious lives in this heinous attack on Indian soil as PM Modi informed him about the cross-border terror incident and expressed gratitude for Sisi's support and solidarity.