Putin Condemns Pahalgam Attack, Invites Modi for India-Russia Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a phone call on May 5, 2025, strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, India. He expressed his condolences for the victims and reiterated Russia’s support for India in its fight against terrorism.Putin emphasized that those responsible for the “barbaric” attack, along with their supporters, must face justice.During the conversation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Putin to India for the 23rd India-Russia annual summit, scheduled for later this year. Modi also conveyed his greetings for Russia’s 80th Victory Day anniversary, celebrated on May 9th.The Kremlin and Indian officials highlighted the “special privileged partnership” between Russia and India, emphasizing that their relationship is strong and unaffected by external pressures. Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts. Putin had previously sent a message to Modi on April 22nd, immediately after the Pahalgam attack which resulted in 26 deaths and numerous injuries, expressing Russia’s commitment to increased counter-terrorism collaboration.India will be represented at the Victory Day parade in Moscow by an “Indian representative,” despite initial invitations for PM Modi and later Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to attend.Meanwhile, PM Modi, who shortened his Saudi Arabia visit following the Pahalgam attack, will proceed with his planned three-nation tour to Croatia, Netherlands, and Norway from May 13th to 17th.Prior to this, on March 27th, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced Putin’s planned visit to India for the annual summit. Lavrov had also expressed Russia’s satisfaction with India’s “balanced position on the Ukrainian crisis.” Putin’s last visit to India was on December 6, 2021. The previous India-Russia summit (22nd) took place in Moscow in July 2024, during Modi’s visit.He also attended the BRICS meeting in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.Notably, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also spoken with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on May 3rd, urging a bilateral political and diplomatic resolution to disagreements between India and Pakistan, based on the 1972 Simla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore Declaration. #IndiaRussia #RussiaIndia #InternationalRelations #Diplomacy #PahalgamAttack #TerrorAttack #CounterTerrorism #IndiaFightsTerrorism #Putin #Modi #PutinModi #IndiaRussiaSummit #AnnualSummit