As tensions between India and Pakistan intensify following Pakistan’s attempted missile and drone strikes on Indian territory, the UK’s political leadership has stepped up diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.
On Friday, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a phone call with Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The two leaders discussed the importance of a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.
“Had a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy this afternoon. Our discussions centered around countering terrorism, for which there must be zero-tolerance,” Jaishankar posted on X.
Lammy, in a separate post, confirmed he had spoken to both Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. “Tensions between India and Pakistan remain a serious concern,” Lammy said. “I’ve continued to push for a path forward through diplomacy, not conflict. I have been clear to all sides that if this escalates further, nobody wins.”
The diplomatic outreach follows Pakistan’s reported attempt on Thursday to strike multiple Indian civilian and military sites, including Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot, using drones and missiles. All incoming threats were successfully neutralised by Indian armed forces, according to defence officials.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had earlier voiced concern over the deteriorating situation, calling it “a serious concern for many across Britain.” Addressing Parliament, he said the UK was engaging urgently with both New Delhi and Islamabad to encourage “dialogue, de-escalation, and the protection of civilians.”
Support for India also came from Conservative MP Priti Patel, who said New Delhi has the right to defend itself from “vile terrorist infrastructure.” Speaking in Parliament, she expressed solidarity with victims of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, calling it “murderous, violent terrorism.”
“It was an act of terrorism, and we must reflect on the fact that Pahalgam has joined Mumbai, New Delhi and other places in India in being forever scarred by an act of terror,” Patel said.
She accused Pakistan of harbouring terror elements and warned that such threats jeopardise not only India but also Western interests. “It was the country that Osama bin Laden was hiding in,” she said, citing longstanding UK-India security cooperation.
Fellow Tory MP Bob Blackman echoed her sentiments, asking the UK government to demand that Pakistan dismantle terrorist bases “once and for all.” Referring to India’s retaliatory strikes, Blackman said: “Last night, nine sites were hit. Those were terrorist bases where terrorists were being trained to commit further atrocities in India.”
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also weighed in, posting on X: “India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists.”
