On April 22, a group of terrorists struck the Baisaran meadow in Kashmir’s Pahalgam and killed 26 male tourists. The statements below reflect a common condemnation of terror, with nuances in emphasis on support to India. As global powers take cognizance of the mounting tensions between India and Pakistan, a largely common aspect is the call for diplomatic solutions.
Israel
Shortly after news of the Pahalgam tragedy broke, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs put out a statement expressing solidarity with India in the fight against terror. On April 24, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated their solidarity with India in a call with PM Modi.
Israel’s ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, also met India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on April 25. India expressed appreciation for “Israel’s steadfast support in combating cross-border terrorism.”
Azar, talking to PTI on April 24, not only condemned the attacks but drew parallels to what happened in Israel on October 7. He said the October 7 attacks are providing “inspiration” to terrorists around the world and further highlighted the presence of Hamas personnel in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the months preceding the attacks.
A TOI report published months prior to the Pahalgam tragedy revealed that in a first, senior Hamas leadership was spotted in PoK for a public rally titled ‘Kashmir solidarity and Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood’ in Rawalakot. Apart from this, several Hamas representatives have made a visit to Pakistan since the October 7 attacks.
Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a trip to Saudi Arabia when news of the Pahalgam attack broke. The Gulf Nation issued a joint statement with India condemning “the gruesome terror attack in Pahalgam” and censuring terrorism and violent extremism in all forms. The statement further said the two nations rejected linking terrorism to any particular race, religion or culture.
The complete statement can be read here.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued another, independent statement condemning the attack “in the strongest terms”. It added that the Kingdom “also extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, and the government and people of the Republic of India.”
Modi’s visit to the Gulf Nation was cut short following the news of the attack as the PM swiftly returned home to deal with the situation.
On April 25, India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, where the two leaders discussed the attacks and the cross border linkages.
The United Arab Emirates
The UAE too released a statement on April 22 condemning the attack and expressing sympathies with the families and government.
“The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries of innocent people,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of India, and to the families of the victims of this heinous attack, as well as its wishes of a speedy recovery for all the injured.”
Complete statement can be read here.
On April 26, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, also held a phone call with PM Modi condemning the attacks and expressing “full solidarity and support with India,” according to a post shared by Indian MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on X.
Iran
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, on April 23, Iran put out a statement condemning the attacks “strongly and unequivocally.” As tensions between India and Pakistan soar, the Islamic Republic, already embroiled in conflict in the region, is attempting to play a stabalising role by holding dialogues with both countries and advocating for a diplomatic way out.
On April 25, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi took to X again, offering to play mediator between the two countries. Aragchi said Iran was willing to use its “good offices in Islamabad and New Delhi” to facilitate dialogue between the “brotherly neighbours of Iran.” He ended the statement with lines from Persian poet Saadi underscoring the interconnectedness of humanity and the collective pain of individual suffering.
On April 26, Iranian Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone call with PM Modi, condemning the Pahalgam attacks, reiterating the “shared responsibility of all countries in the region” to “eradicate the roots of terrorism through empathy, solidarity, and close cooperation.”
