Did Putin Offer Full Support to Modi in the Fight Against Terrorism?

Moscow/New Delhi, May 5 (NationPress) Russian President Vladimir Putin reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, expressing his strong condemnation of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. He pledged full support to India in its ongoing battle against terrorism.

Putin extended his heartfelt condolences regarding the loss of innocent lives and reiterated Russia's commitment to support India in combating terrorism. He emphasized that those responsible for this atrocious attack and their supporters must be held accountable, as stated by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Both leaders reaffirmed their dedication to enhance the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. PM Modi also conveyed his greetings to President Putin on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day and extended an invitation for the Annual Summit scheduled to occur in India later this year.

The violent incident on April 22 resulted in the deaths of 26 innocent tourists and left many others critically injured. It unfolded in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, where four heavily armed terrorists, two of whom were from Pakistan, opened fire on unsuspecting tourists, marking it as one of the most horrific attacks in recent memory.

Putin's call came ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is set to visit the Russian Federation from May 7-10 for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Though PM Modi was invited to attend the Victory Day celebrations, he will not be traveling to Russia. Earlier, the Russian President had expressed his condolences to President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi regarding the tragic outcomes of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

In a message dated April 22, Putin stated, “Please accept my sincere condolences over the tragic consequences of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of innocent civilians from various countries. This brutal act is indefensible. We anticipate that the organizers and perpetrators will face justice. I would like to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening cooperation with Indian partners in combating terrorism across all its forms. Please extend my heartfelt sympathy and support to the families of the deceased and wishes for a swift recovery to the injured.”

On May 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reached out to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss current issues concerning Russian-Indian cooperation and the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack.

Lavrov advocated for resolving disputes between New Delhi and Islamabad through political and diplomatic engagement based on the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999.

“I discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with FM Lavrov yesterday. The perpetrators, supporters, and planners must be brought to justice. We also talked about our bilateral cooperation,” Jaishankar posted on X following the phone call.

Previously, Putin had invited PM Modi to participate in the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow in May 2020.

Additionally, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that the Russian President is expected to visit India in early 2025 following an invitation from PM Modi, as part of their ongoing commitment to annual meetings.

“Our leaders have agreed to meet once a year. This time, it is our turn,” Ushakov stated during a press briefing.

The last visit by the Russian President to India occurred on December 6, 2021, during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, PM Modi made two significant visits to Russia last year, attending the 22nd Russia-India Summit in July and participating in the BRICS Summit held in Kazan in October.