Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while on a visit to Croatia on Tuesday, thanked Zagreb for its support after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In a joint press conference with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb, PM Modi thanked Croatia for its support to India during a moment of national mourning, terming terror as an existential threat to democracy and humanity.
We are profoundly thankful to the Croatian Prime Minister and government for the condolences following the April 22 attack,” Modi said. “During such challenging times, this kindness of our friendly countries matters greatly.”
Modi also emphasized the increasing significance of India-Europe relations and appreciated Croatia’s role in strengthening India’s strategic partnership with the European Union.
Prime Minister Plenkovic echoed Modi’s sentiments, acknowledging the global instability caused by terrorism. “We fully understand Prime Minister Modi’s message. Terrorism is the greatest threat to global peace,” Plenkovic said. He also emphasized Croatia’s willingness to boost cooperation with India across sectors including defence, nuclear energy, shipbuilding, and information technology.
The April 22 Pahalgam killing by Pakistan-sponsored militants took 26 lives, with the majority being tourists. India reacted with targeted air strikes against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-held Kashmir under ‘Operation Sindoor‘ on May 7. The situation worsened when Pakistan retaliated by striking Indian military installations for three consecutive days.
Indian troops made concerted counter-attacks, targeting some of the Pakistani military bases. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, bringing four days of escalated cross-border tensions to an end.
The two leaders reiterated their pledges to tightening bilateral relations as well as presenting a united front against terrorism. The summit also laid the ground for intensified cooperation in strategic areas and reaffirmed India’s global alliances amid increasing security anxieties.
