On 22 April 2025, India witnessed its largest terrorist attack on civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The deadly strike claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, and injured more than 20 people. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the attack but later denied any involvement.
The massacre sparked international outrage and worsened the already strained relationship between India and Pakistan. Responding to the attack on its civilians, India blamed Pakistan for enabling cross-border terrorism, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, and sealed the Attari land border crossing. Islamabad denied any involvement and responded with its own set of countermeasures.
This article explores the global reaction—highlighting nations that condemned the attack, those that urged restraint and dialogue, key allies that stood firmly with India, and others whose silence spoke volumes.
Which countries condemned the Pahalgam terror attack?
Over 60 countries and international organizations swiftly condemned the attack, revealing the international community’s revulsion at the targeting of civilians.
India’s immediate South Asian neighbours—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—were among the first to issue strong condemnations. Bhutan stressed its “solidarity and friendship” with India, while Sri Lanka reaffirmed its commitment to countering terrorism. Pakistan also condemned the attack, though it firmly denied any involvement and rejected India’s allegations of cross-border support for terrorism.
Among the West Asian countries, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar publicly condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. Iran described the attack as “a severe crime violating all international legal norms and human rights principles.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey condolences and emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation against terrorism. Israel, a close counterterrorism partner of India, called the strike an “Islamist terrorist attack” and pledged full support.
From East Asia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China condemned the attack. While Japan and South Korea issued strong, clear statements of support, China’s response was more calibrated. Initially, Beijing expressed “sincere sympathies” and condemned the violence without naming Pakistan. Later, it called for restraint and dialogue between India and Pakistan, revealing its broader interest in regional stability. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam condemned the attack and expressed their solidarity with the government and people of India.
African countries, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa condemned the senseless act of violence against civilians. From Central Asia, Kazakhstan is the only country that officially condemned the attack. However, some reports suggest Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev extended his condolences to the President and Prime Minister of India.
Numerous European nations joined in condemning the attack, including France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, and the United Kingdom. President Macron asserted that “The Indian people can count on the solidarity and friendship of France at a time when they are going through such an ordeal”. Other European countries—such as Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine—also condemned the violence. Russia, a longstanding strategic partner of India, strongly denounced the attack. President Vladimir Putin asserted that “this cruel crime has no excuses” and reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with India to combat terrorism in all its forms.
In North America, both the United States and Canada issued strong condemnations. The U.S. State Department declared that “nothing can justify such a heinous act killing tourists and civilians”. In South America, Argentina, Brazil, Guyana and Peru condemned the attack, with Argentina emphasizing the need for global unity against terrorism.
From the Asia-Pacific region, Australia and New Zealand joined the international chorus in condemning the Pahalgam attack. Several other smaller nations across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean region also condemned the Pahalgam attack. Countries like Guatemala, Honduras, Maldives and Mauritius issued statements denouncing the violence and expressing condolences to the victims’ families.
Apart from these, the United Nations Security Council and Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack in strong terms, calling for accountability and urging all parties to avoid escalation. While the UN’s statement stopped short of naming Pakistan, it reinforced the principle of zero tolerance toward terrorism.
Which Countries Offered Unqualified Support to India?
Analyzing the official remarks published in government portals and online platforms, we can identify eight countries offering unqualified support to India’s fight against terrorism: the United States, Russia, France, Japan, Israel, Netherlands, Singapore and Greece.
Condemning the attack, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social “The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism… Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies.” Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu wrote in X, “Our two countries stand shoulder to shoulder in the critical fight against murderous terrorism”.
President of France Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, “Nous avons toujours été et serons toujours unis dans notre combat contre le terrorisme, sous toutes ses formes.” (We have always been and will always be united in our fight against terrorism, in all its forms.). Similarly, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof wrote, “The Netherlands stands shoulder to shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism, now and in the future.”
According to media reports, while condemning heinous acts of terror, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed “readiness to further strengthen cooperation with Indian partners in the fight against all forms of terrorism.”
The official account of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on X, “Greece stands in solidarity with India in the face of this tragic loss and the ongoing fight against terrorism.”
Condemning the deadly attack, Singapore announced in its official statement, “We stand with India in the fight against terrorism.” Similarly, Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru noted in his official statement, “Japan is firmly committed to combatting terrorism in cooperation with India and the international community.”
Which countries advised dialogue with Pakistan?
No major power explicitly called for dialogue between India and Pakistan in the immediate aftermath of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. However, amid concerns over potential escalation, the United States advised both countries to exercise restraint and resolve the dispute through peaceful dialogue. According to a media report, the US State Department stated that Washington has urged India and Pakistan to work towards a “responsible solution”.
China also raised the option of dialogue between India and Pakistan, albeit in a different context. In response to a question about Pakistan’s interest in involving Russia and China in the investigation of the terrorist attack in Kashmir, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun, said: “China hopes that India and Pakistan will exercise restraint, work in the same direction, handle relevant differences properly through dialogue and consultation, and jointly uphold peace and stability in the region.”
Which countries remained silent?
Several countries—particularly from Africa and Central Asia—remained silent, despite India’s sustained outreach to the Global South. Only three African nations and only one Central Asia country officially condemned the Pahalgam attack. Notably, Myanmar, India’s Southeast Asian neighbour, along with other major countries in the region such as Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines also refrained from issuing any statement of condemnation.
What does the global reaction reveal about India’s diplomatic position?
Analyzing the official condemnations of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, a clear pattern emerges in the global response. While nearly all major powers and regional actors condemned the deadly attack and expressed solidarity with India, none explicitly named or blamed Pakistan for cross-border terrorism. However, countries such as the United States, Israel, France, and Russia offered unqualified support to India, aligning with its framing of the incident. In contrast, most nations in the Global South either issued generic condemnations without naming the perpetrators or chose to remain silent.
The reactions to the Pahalgam attack underscore several key trends. First, the unequivocal backing by several important countries of India’s fight against terrorism reflects New Delhi’s rising stature in international diplomacy. Second, the noticeable absence of calls for dialogue with Pakistan suggests a growing alignment of the international community with India’s security concerns. However, the widespread reluctance to explicitly name Pakistan—despite credible evidence of its involvement in cross-border terrorism—reveals a persistent limitation in India’s diplomatic outreach, particularly among countries in the Global South.
