Daijiworld Media Network- London
London, May 8: In a strongly-worded address at the House of Commons, UK Conservative MP and Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel voiced firm support for India’s right to defend itself following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Patel also launched a scathing critique of Pakistan, accusing it of harbouring terrorists and threatening global security.
Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, Patel expressed condolences to the victims and their families. “Pahalgam now joins Mumbai and Delhi in the tragic list of Indian cities scarred by terrorism,” she said. The MP described the killings as “barbaric”, noting that many victims were shot at point-blank range.
Drawing attention to Pakistan’s track record, Patel said, “Terrorists based in Pakistan threaten India and Western interests. It is the country where Osama bin Laden was found hiding.” She added that the UK has long-standing security cooperation agreements with India and should take the lead in combating global terrorism alongside its allies.
Patel also questioned whether the UK Government had offered intelligence or security assistance to India in the aftermath of the attack. “Has the government provided any specific security assistance to India? Could Britain offer specific support that might help avert escalation?” she asked.
Highlighting the involvement of The Resistance Front (TRF), which claimed responsibility for the attack, Patel pressed the government on whether it agreed with India’s view that TRF is a proxy for the proscribed Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba—an outfit with a long history of attacks against India and alleged links to Hamas.
She urged the UK Government to disclose if any assessments were made regarding the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and whether Britain had engaged Islamabad in discussions over the matter. Further, Patel demanded clarity on how British aid to Pakistan is monitored. “Can Ministers assure us that no British aid ends up in the wrong hands?” she asked.
The remarks come amid growing global concern over cross-border terrorism and renewed calls for accountability from state actors alleged to provide safe havens for extremist groups.