On Friday, over 500 members of the Indian community in London gathered outside the Pakistan High Commission to protest against a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen were killed. The demonstrators held Indian flags, banners, and placards as they expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and demanded justice for the victims. They also raised slogans condemning terrorism and criticised Pakistan for allegedly supporting and sheltering terror groups responsible for such attacks.
During the protest, a senior Pakistani military official stationed at the High Commission was captured on video making a threatening gesture. Colonel Taimur Rahat, serving as Pakistan Army and Air Advisor in the London High Commission, was seen making a symbolic throat-slitting gesture towards the demonstrators. These visuals quickly went viral on social media.
The protest also witnessed tensions when officials at the Pakistan Embassy reportedly played loud celebratory music amidst the demonstration, which the organisers described as an insensitive and provocative act. A statement from the protest organiser said, "While the world mourns the victims, the embassy's actions displayed a shocking lack of empathy and human decency. Organisers condemn the Embassy's insensitive behaviour amid national grief."
Speaking to ANI, a member of the Indian diaspora conveyed the community’s anguish over the attack, stating, "We Indians have gathered here to hold a protest against Pakistan. They (Pakistan) have nurtured a terror factory, and because of which 26 of our people were killed in Pahalgam." Another protester highlighted the heightened agitation among the UK-based Indian community in response to the "heinous terror attack."
An Indo-Jewish participant at the protest drew parallels between the Pahalgam attack and similar incidents elsewhere, remarking, "The Pakistani regime nurtures terrorism... Israel faced it on 7th October, and when I saw this happen in India, it reminded me of that: terrorists coming and killing innocent people, and this terrorism is fed by the Pakistani Islamist regime, and we will be here with the Indians supporting Indians all the time. And Modi is doing great work."
Organisers of the protest condemned Pakistan’s behaviour as beyond mere insensitivity, labelling it "provocation" and stating, "The Pakistani authorities have crossed every boundary of diplomacy and humanity. If Pakistan cannot condemn terror, they are complicit in it." They also called on the UK Government to summon Pakistan's High Commissioner for an official explanation. Further demands included Pakistan publicly condemning the killings, committing to end support for terrorism, and applying diplomatic pressure to bring those responsible and their supporters to justice.
The deadly attack in Pahalgam occurred on 22 April at Baisaran meadow where terrorists targeted pilgrims, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries. Subsequently, the Indian government took several diplomatic measures including closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, mandating them to return within 40 hours, and reducing the number of diplomatic staff in High Commissions on both sides.
In a significant move, India also halted the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, a water-sharing agreement signed after nine years of negotiations with Pakistan, mediated by the World Bank, which remains a signatory to the treaty.
The protests in London reflect widespread dismay within the Indian diaspora about the attack and the perceived role of Pakistan in fostering militant activities across the border, spotlighting diplomatic tensions between the two nations following this tragic incident.
Source: Noah Wire Services