Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake on Friday spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his condolences over the loss of innocent lives in the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism.
“Deeply shocked by the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 innocent lives. Just spoke with PM Narendra Modi to convey Sri Lanka’s solidarity and our shared commitment against terrorism. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families. We stand with India in these difficult times,” Dissanayake posted on X following the phone call.
Earlier in the day, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also reached out to PM Modi, voicing their support for India in the wake of the devastating attack.
In a statement released by 10 Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister’s Office said, “The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, this morning. He expressed horror at the devastating terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, which resulted in the tragic loss of 26 innocent lives. He conveyed his deep condolences on behalf of the British people to those affected, their families, and to the people of India. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact.”
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the “cowardly” attack, firmly rejecting terrorism in all its forms. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Prime Minister Modi thanked Schoof for his support and expressed India’s intent to work closely with the Netherlands in bolstering the global fight against terrorism.
“I just spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the horrific terrorist attack that occurred earlier this week in Pahalgam, and extended my sympathy to the victims, their loved ones, and the people of India. The Netherlands stands shoulder to shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism, now and in the future,” said PM Schoof in a post.
On Thursday, several world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, also called PM Modi to express condolences and solidarity.
The terror attack unfolded on Tuesday in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, when four heavily armed terrorists, including two believed to be Pakistani nationals, emerged from dense forest areas and opened indiscriminate fire on tourists. At least 26 civilians were killed and several others critically injured in what is being described as one of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years.
Intelligence sources have identified the Pakistan-based terror group The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, as being responsible for the attack.
In response, India has initiated a series of strong diplomatic and strategic measures, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, expulsion of Pakistani military attachés, closure of the Attari-Wagah border, and cancellation of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals.
-IANS
