Moscow [Russia], May 24 (ANI): Former diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri, a member of the all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi, said on Saturday that Russia has extended strong support to India’s stance on terrorism and expressed firm solidarity. Puri stated that the Russian leadership was “positive” and fully understood India’s position regarding the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Speaking to ANI, Puri emphasized the enduring strategic partnership between India and Russia, saying it was natural for Moscow to be the first stop in the delegation’s multi-nation diplomatic outreach. “India and Russia have old relationships, we are strategic partners, and the first stop was Russia. Why? Because we want to talk about what happened and what we expect from the world and our friends—our strongest friends. And that was Russia,” he said.
Puri noted that the Russian response was exactly what the Indian side had anticipated. “They were positive, they understood our position, and what they said was that we stand firmly in solidarity and unity with you on terrorism, terrorists… Perpetrators of terrorism should be caught and brought to justice. Exactly the same kind of thing that we believe in,” he explained.
The visit comes in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed. The Indian delegation is briefing global leaders on India’s response—Operation Sindoor—and urging the international community to take a tougher stance against cross-border terrorism.
Puri underscored Russia’s consistency in supporting India on this issue. “Russians have been in strong solidarity with us. There is no doubt about it. They have said it publicly, they have said it in conversations with our Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister. And we appreciate this. That’s our old ally and that’s what we expect from them,” he said.
Puri also responded to comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently claimed he had played a role in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Puri clarified that the Indian government had already set the record straight: it was Pakistan that had requested a ceasefire. “The timelines have been laid by the Indian government very clearly. The Pakistani DGMO called our Director General via the hotline system, which has long been in place. We responded, and the ceasefire was agreed upon. Pakistanis made the request and we agreed,” he stated.
Looking ahead to the next leg of the diplomatic tour, Puri highlighted the significance of Slovenia, which the delegation will visit on May 27. He noted that Slovenia currently serves on the United Nations Security Council and holds global responsibilities in shaping international discourse on terrorism.
“We want to tell them the same thing that we told to our Russian friends. Slovenia is serving at the UN Security Council. These are countries with global responsibility at the moment. They are important countries. It is important for us to draw attention to the fact that India has been strong on terrorism for decades. It is time the world also becomes extremely strong on terrorism and those who perpetrate it,” Puri said.
Earlier in the day, Kanimozhi reiterated that terrorist attacks in India are consistently traced back to Pakistan and emphasized India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism.
The delegation comprises members across party lines, including SP MP Rajeev Rai, BJP’s Capt. Brijesh Chowta, RJD’s Prem Chand Gupta, AAP’s Ashok Kumar Mittal, and former Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri. They arrived in Moscow on Friday.
On Saturday, the group paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Indian Embassy in Moscow and held discussions with the Russian State Duma and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the coming days, they will visit Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain to continue diplomatic engagement on Operation Sindoor and reinforce India’s firm position against global terrorism. (ANI)
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