India condemns Brussels attacks, Modi to go ahead with Belgium visit

Reuters: India on Tuesday (22 March) condemned the twin attacks that left at least 26 people dead in Brussels.

The twin attacks on airport and a rush-hour metro train occurred four days after the arrest in Brussels of a suspected participant in November militant attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that there were no reports of any Indian casualties in the explosions.

“We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. We stand in solidarity with the people and government of Belgium. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims. Terrorism is a global scourge and the attack in Belgium underscores once again, the need to counter it unitedly. Our mission in Belgium is closely monitoring the situation. They have already issued helpline numbers. As of now, we have no reports of any Indian casualties,” Swarup told reporters in New Delhi.

He added that the attacks would not defer Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to Belgium later this month.

Modi is scheduled to embark on a three-nation tour from 30 March to 3 April. His first destination will be Brussels where he will attend the India-EU Summit.

“Prime Minister will pay his first official visit to Brussels on 30  March 2016 for the 13th India-EU summit,” said Swarup.

Modi is slated to hold bilateral talks with his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest.

From Brussels, Modi will leave for Washington DC to participate in a Nuclear Security Summit (NSS). He will then head to Saudi Arabia for a bilateral visit.

The attacks in Brussels triggered security alerts across western Europe and brought some cross-border transport to a halt. Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands, all wary of spillover from conflict in Syria, were among states announcing extra security measures.