UK Conservative Party Member of Parliament Priti Patel has voiced strong support for India, affirming its right to take “reasonable and proportionate” measures to protect itself and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure that has inflicted deaths and continues to pose a threat. Patel also condemned Pakistan for enabling terrorism that endangers both India and Western nations.
Her statements followed India’s launch of Operation Sindoor on Wednesday morning, during which the Indian armed forces targeted nine key terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation came in direct response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 innocent civilians dead.
Speaking in the UK House of Commons, Patel, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, began by expressing her condolences to the victims of the “murderous, violent terrorism” in Pahalgam.
“This was an act of terrorism, and we must recognise that Pahalgam now joins Mumbai, New Delhi, and other Indian cities forever scarred by such horrific violence,” she said.
Detailing the brutality of the attack, Patel noted, “On April 22, terrorists brutally killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam in a barbaric and savage act of violence. Most victims were shot at point-blank range, directly in the head.”
She then directed attention toward Pakistan, stating that terrorists operating from within its borders pose a threat not only to India but to Western interests as well.
“Pakistan was the country where Osama bin Laden was hiding. Given its long-standing history of harboring violent extremism against India, it is no surprise that the UK maintains robust security cooperation agreements with India,” she asserted.
Patel urged the British government to work closely with international allies to combat global terrorism threats, adding, “Given those links, the UK Government should be leading efforts to collaborate with our friends and allies in addressing these shared security challenges.”
She also questioned whether the UK had provided any assistance to India following the Pahalgam attack.
“The Minister may not be able to disclose specifics about intelligence sharing between the UK and India, but can he at least confirm whether our intelligence and security services have been in contact with India regarding these incidents? Has any specific security support been extended to aid India’s investigation into the attack? Can Britain offer further assistance to help prevent further escalation?” she asked.
Patel brought up The Resistance Front (TRF), which has claimed responsibility for the April 22 attack, asking if the UK government agreed with India’s assessment that the TRF is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.
“Does the Minister agree with India’s view that The Resistance Front, which has taken responsibility for the April 22 attack, is essentially a proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba? This group has a well-documented history of terrorist activity against India and has reportedly been linked to Hamas,” she questioned.
She further pressed the government on whether it had any knowledge of cooperation between Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hamas.
“Can the Minister confirm if the UK government is aware of any operational ties or collaborative efforts between Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hamas?” she asked.
Patel also pressed for evidence of any conversations the UK Foreign Secretary may have had with his Indian counterparts following the Pahalgam attack.
“Have Ministers evaluated the scale of the terrorist infrastructure operating in Pakistan? Have any discussions been held with Pakistani officials on these matters?” she continued.
Raising concerns over UK aid to Pakistan, Patel demanded reassurances from the government that British financial assistance—whether bilateral or through international organisations—is not misused.
“Can Ministers confirm that robust measures are in place to prevent any UK aid to Pakistan from being diverted to the wrong hands?” she asked.
Finally, Patel called for the UK government to conduct a formal assessment of the Pahalgam terror attack and identify the perpetrators responsible.
