Putin backs India's fight against terrorism, condemns Pahalgam attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (May 5) told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam massacre “and their supporters must be brought to justice”.

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Putin said this over the telephone to Modi while also conveying his deepest condolences over the loss of innocent lives on April 22 and also voiced full support to India’s fight against terrorism.

Extends support

The Russian leader told Modi that his country fully supports India's fight against terrorism, the external affairs ministry in New Delhi said.

"President Putin called PM @narendramodi and strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam," ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post.

"He conveyed deepest condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed full support to India in the fight against terrorism," he added.

Pahalgam attack

More than two dozen civilians, all but one being Hindu male tourists from other parts of India, were gunned down by terrorists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22.

India has blamed Pakistan and Pakistani terrorists for the cold-blooded mayhem. Each victim was identified as a Hindu and then killed. A Kashmiri Muslim was also shot dead.

India-Russia ties

"He (Putin) emphasised that the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their supporters must be brought to justice," the spokesman said.

Modi and Putin also reiterated their commitment to further deepen India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

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The prime minister conveyed his greetings to the Russian president on the celebration of the 80th anniversary of 'Victory Day'. Modi also invited Putin for the India-Russia annual summit to be held in India later in the year.