Putin accepts PM Modi's invitation; assures Russia's full support: ‘Perpetrators of Pahalgam terror attack must be…’

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Monday, May 5, spoke to PM Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. During the call, President Putin conveyed Russia's full support to India's fight against terrorism. Putin also accepted PM Modi's invitation to visit India, the Kremlin confirmed.

 As per the MEA, President Putin said that perpetrators of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and their supporters must be brought to justice.

Putin assures ‘full support to India’

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “President Putin offered his deepest condolences for the loss of innocent lives and assured full support to India in its fight against terrorism. He emphasised that the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their supporters must be brought to justice.”

Putin's conversation with PM Modi comes after Modi recently skipped his visit to Russia, amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, which continues to feel the jitters for the brutal Pahalgam attack.

During their call, Vladimir Putin and PM Modi discussed ways to strengthen the close ties between India and Russia. PM Modi also wished Putin a happy 80th anniversary of Victory Day and invited him to visit India later this year for the Annual Summit, the MEA spokesperson said.

Putin accepts PM Modi's invitation to visit India

Russian President Vladimir Putin also accepted an invitation from PM Narendra Modi, the Kremlin confirmed.

Putin and Modi emphasised that relations between Russia and India were not affected by external influence and continue to develop dynamically.

Pahalgam attacks

The April 22 attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran valley, a picturesque tourist destination often referred to as “mini Switzerland”, was the deadliest in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Horror gripped the scenic Baisaran meadow after The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, opened fire, killing 26 people, mainly tourists.

India's moves against Pakistan

Just a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and also shut the Attari-Wagah check posts.

India further cut off the flow of water through the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River and is planning similar measures at the Kishanganga Dam, news agency PTI reported, citing a source.

In addition to its series of actions against Pakistan, India further imposed 3 bans on its neighbour on a single day:

1. India imposed an immediate ban on the direct or indirect import and transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan

2. Hours after imposing the ban, India also barred all ships bearing the Pakistani flag from entering any of its ports

3. India also suspended all postal services from Pakistan