Washington/London, Apr 23 (PTI) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli were among the world leaders who on Wednesday condemned the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.

Foreign Offices of Pakistan, China, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Singapore and Sri Lanka too condoled the deaths in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Guterres has strongly condemned the “armed attack” in Pahalgam, stressing that attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam on Tuesday, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had expressed solidarity with India.

On Wednesday, EU Commission president von der Leyen termed the Pahalgam attack as “vile” and said that Europe stands with India.

“The vile terror attack in Pahalgam today stole so many innocent lives. My deepest condolences to @narendramodi and every Indian heart grieving today. Yet I know that India’s spirit is unbreakable. You will stand strong in this ordeal. And Europe will stand with you,” she said in a post on X.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy took to social media to express solidarity with India.

“The horrific terrorist attack in Kashmir today is utterly devastating. My thoughts are with those affected, their loved ones, and the people of India,” Starmer said in a post on X.

A little earlier, Lammy posted on the platform: “I am appalled by the horrific and cowardly terrorist attack on Kashmir earlier today. My thoughts are with all of those affected, especially those who have lost loved ones.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “deeply saddened by the barbaric terrorist attack” in Pahalgam that killed and injured dozens of innocents.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims & their families. Israel stands with India in its fight against terrorism,” he said.

French President Macron termed it as “a heinous terrorist attack”.

“We share the profound sorrow of the victims’ families, to whom I extend my heartfelt condolences,” he said.

China also “strongly condemned” the Pahalgam terror attack, saying it “firmly opposes all forms of terrorism”.

“We mourn for the lives lost and express sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told the media on Wednesday.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government condemned the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, saying “such incidents undermine efforts to ensure regional security and stability”.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan categorically condemns the recent attack on tourists in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses condolences to the bereaved families,” Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in a statement.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office Wednesday said it was “concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives in an attack” in Pahalgam and extended condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

In Kathmandu, Nepal Prime Minister Oli condemned the attack and extended deepest condolences to the victims. “Nepal stands firmly with India and strongly condemns any and all acts of terrorism,” Oli wrote on X.

Close coordination has been established with different agencies to verify reports of a Nepali national among the victims, Oli said and expressed commitment to provide all necessary assistance from the government.

Bangladesh interim government’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack and reaffirmed its unwavering stance against terrorism.

“Excellency: Please accept my deepest condolences over the loss of life resulting from the terrorist attack that took place in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. We strongly condemn this heinous act. Let me reaffirm Bangladesh’s resolute stand against terrorism,” Yunus said in a message to Modi.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake condemned “in the strongest terms the cowardly terrorist attack”, saying Sri Lanka “always stands in solidarity with the people of India”.

Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam called Prime Minister Modi and offered his deepest condolences on the senseless killing of innocent people in the terror attack. He strongly condemned the cowardly terror attack.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “strongly condemned” the Pahalgam attack and expressed solidarity with the people of India.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha “strongly condemned” the attack in Pahalgam. “When innocent people are killed, it causes unbearable pain. Such violence has no justification. On this grim day, Ukraine stands in solidarity with India,” he said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, describing “this heinous act as a grave crime, in flagrant violation of all international legal and humanitarian norms”.

He extended condolences to the government and people of India and wished a swift recovery for the injured. He underscored the urgent need to strengthen cooperation and coordination at regional and international levels to prevent and combat terrorism, and to ensure the prosecution and punishment of its perpetrators and sponsors.

Multiple US lawmakers, including US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Jim Risch, and members of the Indian-American community strongly condemned the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam.

“I send my condolences to the people of India in the aftermath of the horrific attack in Kashmir and hope those responsible will be brought to justice soon. Terrorism is never tolerated,” Senator Risch wrote on X.

Earlier, in a call with Modi, President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of the “heinous attack.” Vivek Ramaswamy, who was a 2024 presidential primary candidate, also paid tributes to the deceased and offered prayers for those who were injured to recover quickly. PTI GRS/ZH YAS KJV AK SHK SCY SH NPK ZH ASH ZH ZH