The April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of numerous tourists, including some foreign nationals, drew widespread international condemnation. The global response was characterized by strong solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism, but also with some calls for restraint amidst a period of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
Key International Reactions:
United States: U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance strongly condemned the attack. President Trump affirmed India’s “sovereign right to combat terrorism” and expressed support for India’s response, Operation SINDOOR, while Vice President Vance also called for restraint, stating the situation was “fundamentally a regional matter.” In a significant move, the U.S. State Department later designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a group that initially claimed responsibility for the attack, as a “foreign terrorist organization,” linking it to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
United Nations: The UN Security Council (UNSC) “strongly condemned” the attack in the “strongest terms” and reiterated that terrorism is a major threat to international peace and security. The UNSC urged all nations to cooperate in bringing the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors to justice. However, a review of the statement indicated that it was “watered down” and did not explicitly name the TRF or its ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba, reportedly due to Pakistan’s non-permanent membership on the Council and China’s support.
Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova firmly condemned the attack, calling it a “brutal crime.” Russia reiterated its commitment to increasing counter-terrorism cooperation with India but also urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and resolve their differences peacefully through diplomatic dialogue.
European Union: The EU and its member states unequivocally condemned the attack and expressed condolences to India. The EU has continued its counter-terrorism dialogue with India, with a recent meeting in Brussels where both sides reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism and their commitment to cooperation in multilateral forums like the UN and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Major Powers and Regional Actors:
France andIsrael expressed strong solidarity with India. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack and stated that France would continue its fight against terrorism alongside its allies. Israel’s ambassador to India affirmed Israel’s support for India’s right to self-defense.
Saudi Arabia and theUAE strongly denounced the attack, reaffirming their firm stance against terrorism and expressing solidarity with India. The UAE’s support for India’s Operation SINDOOR reflected its deepening strategic ties with India.
Japan,Iran, andQatar also issued condemnations, with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian personally calling Prime Minister Modi to offer condolences and emphasize the need for regional cooperation.
TheShanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which includes both India and Pakistan, adopted the “Tianjin Declaration” which “strongly condemned” terrorism in all its forms, including the Pahalgam attack, and called for an end to the “cross-border movement” of terrorists.
Diplomatic Context and Analysis:
While there was a near-universal condemnation of the attack itself, the international reaction also highlighted diplomatic complexities and strategic interests. Some reports noted that India’s “loudspeaker diplomacy” and military response, “Operation SINDOOR,” received a more muted or cautious reaction from certain countries, which prioritized regional stability over explicitly assigning blame. Pakistan, in turn, labeled India’s statements as “replete with fabrications” and accused India of manufacturing conflict for domestic political purposes.
