OSLO — Himanshu Gulati, an Indian-origin member of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting), has condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, calling it an “attack on humanity” and expressing solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism.
“It is with great shock and sadness that we have witnessed the brutal attack in Pahalgam,” Gulati said in a video message released on Sunday. “I offer my heartfelt condolences to the victims and to the people of India.”
Gulati, whose parents immigrated to Norway in the 1970s, specifically denounced the targeting of civilians based on their religion during the attack. “We saw civilians being brutally killed because of their faith. This is not just an attack on India—it is an attack on humanity.”
Drawing parallels with global terrorism, Gulati added, “In my own country, Norway, we have been victims of terrorism. The world has seen the brutality of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and now terror organizations like those responsible for this heinous attack in India. These are enemies of humanity.”
The Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including Hindu pilgrims and tourists, was later claimed by The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Gulati emphasized the need for unified global action against such threats. “The international community, and the civilized world at large, must stand together against terrorism and confront these evil forces.”
The attack has sparked outrage and protests across the global Indian diaspora. In London, Indian-origin demonstrators gathered to voice their anger over the killings, while nearby, pro-Pakistan groups held counter-demonstrations outside the Pakistani High Commission, chanting anti-India slogans.
Tensions escalated further when a senior Pakistan Army official was caught on video making a throat-slitting gesture toward the Indian protesters. The footage, which went viral on Saturday, was widely condemned as “sick,” “disgusting,” and emblematic of the lack of professionalism within Pakistan’s military and diplomatic circles.
Social media users reacted angrily to the video, which showed the officer taunting the peaceful demonstrators while holding a poster of Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman. The poster was used to mock Indian protesters, reviving memories of Varthaman’s capture by Pakistani forces in 2019 after his aircraft was shot down across the Line of Control. The pilot was released two days later in a highly publicized gesture.
The provocative act by the Pakistani official further inflamed tensions following the Pahalgam attack, reinforcing calls from leaders like Gulati for a united global stance against terrorism. (Source: IANS)
