NEW DELHI, May 4. /TASS/. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh may not attend the Victory Parade in Moscow this year as planned, the PTI news agency reported, citing sources in the government.

It is possible that his deputy, State Minister of Defense Sanjay Seth, will attend in his place.

According to the sources, this decision was made due to escalated tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir where 26 individuals were killed.

On April 22, armed militants opened fire on tourists in the town of Pahalgam in northern India (Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir), killing 25 Indian nationals and one tourist from Nepal, and wounding many more. The perpetrators managed to flee the scene.

Earlier, an invitation to attend the Victory Parade in Red Square in Moscow was sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Modi will be unable to attend and the country will be represented at the event by other officials.