London, United Kingdom — Priti Patel, a British MP of Indian heritage, has voiced strong condemnation of a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals. In a passionate address to Parliament, Patel characterized the incident as a blatant act of terrorism and emphasized the urgent need for the British government to bolster its support for India in combating such violence.
Patel expressed her understanding of the profound impact this tragedy has had, particularly on Indian communities in the UK. She stated, “This week has been incredibly challenging for India and for its diaspora here.” She underscored the importance of openly labeling this attack as terrorism and emphasized its link to a troubling trend of assaults on civilians and minority groups in the region.
Highlighting the historical ties between the UK and India regarding security cooperation, Patel referenced various key agreements aimed at strengthening their partnership. These include the New Delhi Declaration from 2002, the India-UK Strategic Partnership established in 2016, and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in 2022. She pointed to the recently agreed UK India 2030 roadmap as a vital framework that must be utilized to ensure robust security measures.
In her speech, Patel pressed the government to provide clarity on what intelligence it has regarding the assailants. She questioned whether the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a group designated as a terrorist organization in the UK, is believed to be involved. Additionally, she inquired about potential links to Pakistan and the status of support provided to India following the attack.
“Has there been any specific assistance offered in light of this tragedy?” Patel asked, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in addressing the situation. She called for an evaluation of whether this incident indicates a deliberate pattern of targeting specific communities and questioned the UK government’s assessment of potential connections among groups that threaten the stability of Kashmir and global peace.
Furthermore, she raised concerns about the need for increased security within the UK, particularly regarding the protection of the Indian High Commission. Patel urged the government to evaluate whether the rising threats connected to Kashmir could influence broader international peace dynamics, including potential ties to organizations like Hamas.
In light of these points, Patel urged her colleagues to act in unison with India to reinforce their longstanding security partnership, reiterating the necessity of standing together in the face of terrorism.