PM Modi to skip Russia’s Victory Day celebrations trip on May 9

New Delhi, Apr 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9 in Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday. While the Kremlin has not provided a specific reason for Modi’s absence, media reports suggest the decision follows heightened security concerns after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. India has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.

The Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilian tourists, was reportedly carried out by Pakistan-based militants. The incident led to a sharp escalation in India-Pakistan tensions, prompting New Delhi to take a series of diplomatic actions. These included suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, sealing the Attari-Wagah border, and ordering Pakistani nationals to leave India within a set timeframe.

Prime Minister Modi, who was visiting Saudi Arabia at the time of the attack, immediately cut short his trip and returned to India. Since then, the government has intensified its counterterrorism posture and received widespread international support. Indian diaspora communities around the world have also held protests outside Pakistani missions, demanding justice and an end to cross-border terrorism.