Britain's Indian-origin former home secretary Priti Patel on Wednesday backed India's right to self-defence after Indian armed forces struck nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor as retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Speaking in the United Kingdom's House of Commons, Patel also recalled how Osama Bin Laden was found living in Pakistan.
"Mr Speaker, this is clearly a precarious moment and we want to see tensions ease between India and Pakistan. We want to avoid a state-on-state military escalation. We're also clear that India has the right to take reasonable and proportionate steps to defend itself and to dismantle the vile terrorist infrastructure that has caused death and continues to threaten them. And we know that terrorists based in Pakistan threaten India and Western interests," Patel said.
"It (Pakistan) was the country that Osama bin Laden was hiding in. And because of the long history of violence inflicted by terrorists on India, the UK has in place longstanding security cooperation agreements with India. And in fact, last weekend, this House reminded the government of those long-standing security agreements, why they exist and why they should matter to us here in the UK," she added.
Further, the Conservative MP remarked that Pahalgam had joined the list of Indian cities such as Mumbai and New Delhi, which had been "scarred by acts of terrorism."
"This was an act of terrorism and we must reflect on the fact that Pahalgam has joined Mumbai, New Delhi and other places in India that will be forever scarred by an act of terror," Patel stated.
The ex-home secretary also called for more active UK involvement and urged the Labour government to work with allies to counter global terrorism.
"Given these links, the UK government should be at the forefront of working with our friends and allies to tackle the terrorist threats that we face collectively. Has the government provided any specific security assistance to India in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Kashmir? Could Britain offer specific support that might help avert escalation?," Patel asked
Patel called on the British government to leverage its influence to ease tensions between India and Pakistan. She also asked for an update in the actions that would be taken by the government to prevent the escalation of tensions.
Besides Patel, fellow Conservative MP and UK's former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also expressed support for India's anti-terror strikes, saying its action in striking terror infrastructure is "justified."
Speaking in the United Kingdom's House of Commons, Patel also recalled how Osama Bin Laden was found living in Pakistan.
"Mr Speaker, this is clearly a precarious moment and we want to see tensions ease between India and Pakistan. We want to avoid a state-on-state military escalation. We're also clear that India has the right to take reasonable and proportionate steps to defend itself and to dismantle the vile terrorist infrastructure that has caused death and continues to threaten them. And we know that terrorists based in Pakistan threaten India and Western interests," Patel said.
Today in the House of Commons I reiterated my condolences for those impacted by the atrocity that took place in Pahalgam. We must stand with those affected by terrorism. The UK must work with our friends in India to tackle terrorist threats and engage with India, Pakistan and key… pic.twitter.com/8RXezaJHx0
— Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) May 7, 2025
"It (Pakistan) was the country that Osama bin Laden was hiding in. And because of the long history of violence inflicted by terrorists on India, the UK has in place longstanding security cooperation agreements with India. And in fact, last weekend, this House reminded the government of those long-standing security agreements, why they exist and why they should matter to us here in the UK," she added.
Further, the Conservative MP remarked that Pahalgam had joined the list of Indian cities such as Mumbai and New Delhi, which had been "scarred by acts of terrorism."
"This was an act of terrorism and we must reflect on the fact that Pahalgam has joined Mumbai, New Delhi and other places in India that will be forever scarred by an act of terror," Patel stated.
The ex-home secretary also called for more active UK involvement and urged the Labour government to work with allies to counter global terrorism.
"Given these links, the UK government should be at the forefront of working with our friends and allies to tackle the terrorist threats that we face collectively. Has the government provided any specific security assistance to India in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Kashmir? Could Britain offer specific support that might help avert escalation?," Patel asked
Patel called on the British government to leverage its influence to ease tensions between India and Pakistan. She also asked for an update in the actions that would be taken by the government to prevent the escalation of tensions.
Besides Patel, fellow Conservative MP and UK's former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also expressed support for India's anti-terror strikes, saying its action in striking terror infrastructure is "justified."
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