Russian president expresses condolences, backs India’s position amid calls for international investigation
NEW DELHI — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday condemned last month’s deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, voicing solidarity with India during a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Kremlin leader also offered his “deepest condolences” over the April 22 assault, which claimed 26 lives, and pledged full Russian support in India’s fight against terrorism.
“President Putin @KremlinRussia_E called PM @narendramodi and strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam, India. He conveyed deepest condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed full support to India in the fight against terrorism. He emphasized that the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their supporters must be brought to justice,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
Diplomatic message amid regional tension
The timing of Putin’s outreach carries diplomatic significance. It follows closely on the heels of a provocative statement by Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, who in an interview with Russian state outlet RIA Novosti called for an international probe into the attack. Asif suggested that Russia, China, or Western powers could form an investigative team to assess India’s allegations of Pakistani involvement. “Let an international team find out,” Asif said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also supported such a move.
While New Delhi has yet to officially respond to Asif’s remarks, President Putin’s call bolsters India’s stance during heightened regional tension, underscoring Russia’s continued strategic alignment with India.
Deepening strategic ties and a summit invitation
Beyond the immediate aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, the two leaders used the conversation to reaffirm their broader bilateral partnership.
According to Jaiswal, Modi and Putin “reiterated their commitment” to strengthening the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership — a longstanding diplomatic and defense alliance.
Prime Minister Modi also extended congratulations to Putin ahead of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9 and invited him to visit India later this year for the Annual Summit. The Russian leader accepted the invitation, setting the stage for a high-level meeting that may further reinforce bilateral cooperation in defense, energy, and multilateral diplomacy.
As India continues to investigate the Pahalgam attack, Putin’s unequivocal support offers New Delhi a powerful diplomatic endorsement — one that counters calls for external scrutiny and reaffirms the depth of India-Russia relations at a critical juncture.