Brussels, May 8 — The European Union on Thursday affirmed India’s right to lawfully defend its citizens in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, even as it called on both India and Pakistan to de-escalate rising tensions and return to dialogue.
In a formal statement, the EU and its 27 member states said they “unequivocally condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam” that killed several civilians, and stressed that “terrorism can never be justified.”
The statement added, “Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice.”
Referring to India’s retaliatory military action — Operation Sindoor — launched on May 7, the EU noted, “Every state has the duty and the right lawfully to protect its citizens from acts of terror.”
The Indian government had confirmed that nine targets linked to terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were struck during the operation.
Amid the mounting tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, the EU urged calm.
“We call on both parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and desist from further attacks to safeguard civilian lives,” the statement read.
The EU also stressed the need for both countries to uphold their international legal obligations and take “all measures possible to protect civilian lives.”
It added that it would continue engaging with relevant parties to help reduce tensions and encourage a diplomatic path forward.
