Putin dials PM Modi, echoes Delhi: Bring Pahalgam terrorists, backers to justice

This phone conversation took place three days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and told him that the perpetrators, backers and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack would be brought to justice — a framing also used by Putin, according to Delhi’s readout.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, in a post on X, said Putin called Modi and “strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam”.

“He conveyed deepest condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed full support to India in the fight against terrorism. He emphasised that the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their supporters must be brought to justice,” Jaiswal said.

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 emphasised that the…

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) May 5, 2025

The Russian government’s statement said, “Vladimir Putin once again expressed his sincere condolences over the death of Indian citizens as a result of the barbaric terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam in southern Kashmir. Both sides emphasised the need for an uncompromising fight against terrorism in all its manifestations.”

On April 22, in a message addressed to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, the Russian President, who is slated to visit India later this year, conveyed “condolences over the tragic consequences of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam whose victims were civilians – citizens of various countries”.

“This brutal crime has no justification whatsoever. We expect that its organisers and perpetrators will face a deserved punishment,” Putin had said, adding, “I would like to reiterate our commitment to further increasing cooperation with Indian partners in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”

On Monday, Moscow’s statement also said that “during the conversation, the strategic nature of Russian-Indian relations as a special privileged partnership was emphasised. These relations are not subject to external influence and continue to develop dynamically in all areas.”

This is perceived as an oblique reference to the US and China, which both sides sometimes feel may impact the other’s decisions.

The phone conversation happened hours before the UN Security Council was to hold closed consultations Monday on the situation between India and Pakistan after Islamabad sought an emergency meeting.

Pakistan currently sits as a non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation Security Council, which is being presided over by Greece for the month of May.

On the Putin-Modi call, Jaiswal said, “Both leaders reiterated their commitment to further deepen Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. The PM conveyed greetings to President Putin on the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day and invited him for the Annual Summit to be held in India later in the year.”

Moscow’s statement said “Modi congratulated Vladimir Putin and all the Russian people on the upcoming 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. It was noted that Victory Day is a common holiday. Indian representative to attend Moscow ceremonies”.

Russia had invited Modi to the Victory Day parade, but it was decided that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would attend the event. However, Singh is also set to skip the parade and his deputy Sanjay Seth is likely to represent India at the event.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Red Army’s victory over German Nazi forces in the Second World War.

Moscow also said that Modi “confirmed the invitation to the Russian President to visit India for the traditional annual bilateral summit. The invitation was accepted with gratitude”.

Modi travelled to Russia twice last year — for an annual summit with Putin in July and to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October.