During his official visit to India, President of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, issued a strong condemnation of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which tragically claimed 26 lives, including that of a Nepali tourist.
Speaking on behalf of his nation, President Lourenço conveyed heartfelt condolences and reaffirmed Angola’s support for India in the fight against terrorism.
“Angola was one of the first to react immediately after the sad events in the Kashmir region, where human lives were victimised,” said President Lourenco.
“We made the Indian authorities realise our feelings of sorrow for the Indian people and their families. Angola obviously condemns any terrorism, regardless of where it is committed.”
Amid the sombre context of the Pahalgam attack, India and Angola advanced their bilateral defence cooperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a significant $200 million line of credit in Indian rupees to Angola for procurement of defence equipment.
The credit aims to deepen strategic ties and enhance Angola’s military capacity with support from Indian manufacturers.
Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), briefed the media on the development, stating, “They will be sourcing defence equipment from India. Already, they are in touch with private and public sector companies for various items.”
This growing defence engagement underscores India’s expanding outreach to African nations and reflects a broader commitment to South-South cooperation.
Earlier on Saturday, President Lourenco met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including security, trade, and technological cooperation.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also participated in the high-level talks and hailed them as productive and future-oriented.
The meetings marked a continuation of India’s policy to strengthen engagement with Africa, with Angola emerging as a key partner in energy and defence sectors.
President Lourenco’s condemnation of terrorism and India’s defence credit commitment symbolise a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two nations.
As both countries move forward with shared goals of peace and development, their cooperation sets an example of principled diplomacy in the face of global security challenges.
The visit not only reaffirmed Angola’s friendship with India but also laid the groundwork for a resilient and strategic Indo-Angolan partnership in the years to come.
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