New Delhi, May 5 – Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, reaffirming Russia's unwavering support for India’s fight against terrorism and stressing that the perpetrators of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam must be brought to justice. As per agency report, Putin strongly condemned the April 22 attack, describing it as "barbaric," and underlined the importance of an uncompromising fight against all forms of terrorism.
During the conversation, the Russian Embassy noted that both leaders emphasized the need for continued global cooperation in combating terrorism without any concessions. Putin also accepted Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to attend the annual India-Russia Summit, scheduled to be held in India later this year.
According to Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, President Putin expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in the Pahalgam attack and reiterated Russia’s full solidarity with India in its anti-terror efforts. He also underscored that the masterminds and supporters of such heinous acts must be held accountable.
The two leaders further reiterated their commitment to strengthening the "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" between India and Russia. Prime Minister Modi extended warm greetings to President Putin on the 80th anniversary of Russia’s Victory Day and highlighted the enduring nature of the bilateral relationship, which, according to a statement from the Russian side, is not subject to external influence and continues to develop dynamically across multiple sectors.
The phone call followed recent diplomatic exchanges between the two countries, including a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. In that interaction, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's resolve to bring the “perpetrators, sponsors, and conspirators” of the Pahalgam attack to justice.
The Russian Embassy also recalled Lavrov's call for both India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through political and diplomatic means, in line with the principles of the 1972 Shimla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore Declaration.
India has already vowed to respond firmly to the cross-border links of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians, including several tourists, were killed. Prime Minister Modi, during a high-level security meeting on April 29, gave Indian armed forces complete operational freedom to decide the method, target, and timing of India’s response.
