A Filipino-Indian business and welfare organization denounced the recent attack in Pahalgam, India that left 26 tourists dead, calling for justice and stronger international action against terrorism.
In a press statement, the Filipino Indian Commerce and Welfare Society Inc. (FICWSI) expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims, most of whom were Hindu pilgrims visiting the Baisaran Valley in Jammu and Kashmir.
The group led by its president Manjinder ‘James’ Kumar described the incident as one of the deadliest in the region in over two decades.
“On behalf of the 100,000-strong Indian community in the Philippines and upstanding Filipino-Indians represented by our society FICWSI, we express our deepest condolences to the survivors and the families of the victims of this senseless act of violence,” said Kumar.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a group reportedly linked to the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack.
Indian authorities have pointed to possible cross-border involvement, though Pakistan has denied any role and called for an independent investigation.
Kumar emphasized that such violence undermines global peace efforts and the safety of civilians. For an unstable world that is already on edge, atrocities like this are simply unacceptable,” he said.
While urging Pakistani authorities to assist in the pursuit of justice, the FICWSI also called on the international community to take a firm stand against acts of terrorism. The group emphasized that long-term peace in the region depends on diplomacy, transparency, and mutual respect.
“We stand with the rest of the world in condemning terrorism of all kinds, as we reiterate our belief in the freedom to express our religion without fear of retaliation, as we Filipino-Indians have enjoyed in all these years we have lived and worked in the Philippines,” Kumar added.
