New Delhi: Foreign secretary Vikram Misri, on Wednesday, drew a parallel between the October 2023 Hamas terror attack on Israel and cross-border terrorism faced by India.
In a veiled reference to the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed, Misri said that India is ‘too familiar with such mindless brutality” and has its own share of experience as a victim of cross-border terrorism, as reported by ANI.
He was addressing the International Holocaust Remembrance Day event held at the Embassy of Israel during the day. India immediately empathises with nations that face terrorism, Misri said, recalling the killing of around 1,200 Israeli nationals and the abduction of hundreds during the Hamas attack.
“India is unfortunately too familiar with such mindless brutality, having been a victim of cross-border terrorism ourselves. We empathise immediately with those who undergo the same tragedy,” the foreign secretary said.
India had strongly condemned the October 7 attack, he noted, and reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement of solidarity with Israel.
“This is why we not only condemned this horrific terrorist attack and hostage-taking, but also our Prime Minister clearly stated that India stands with the people of Israel in the fight against terrorism,” he added.
The foreign secretary reflected on the significance of Holocaust remembrance, saying that the lessons of history remain deeply relevant today.
“The Holocaust did not begin with the extinguishing of life. It began with words–words of hatred, words of dehumanisation, words of exclusion,” Misri said, warning against the normalisation of prejudice, discrimination and silence.
Remembering the victims of the Holocaust is both an act of moral courage and a solemn commitment to ensure that such crimes against humanity are never repeated, he said.
“It began when prejudice was normalised. When discrimination was institutionalised. And when silence replaced conscience. We must remember the victims, not only for the tragedy that they endured, but also as a commitment to ensure that such crimes against humanity never occur again. These acts of remembrance are acts of moral courage and ensure that ‘never again’ is not merely a slogan but equally a solemn responsibility. On this occasion, we also pay tribute to the survivors who endured unimaginable suffering yet chose life and chose resilience,” the foreign secretary added.
Misri reaffirmed India’s principled position, while saying that terrorism must be condemned in all its forms and manifestations. India has consistently supported genuine efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in West Asia, he said.
According to him, the Gaza Peace Plan, spearheaded by the US to end the war in the region, offers a viable pathway to long-term, sustainable peace.
“The ceasefire and the release of hostages have brought immense relief, as hostages are reunited with their families,” Misri said, expressing hope that these efforts would lead to a peaceful and durable resolution of regional conflicts.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed on January 27, is observed to remember the six million Jews killed under the Nazi regime during World War II, seen as an act of antisemitism.
According to the United Nations, this date was chosen as it marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Death Camp on January 27, 1945.
