New Delhi: Calling it an “act of terrorism”, Indian-origin UK MP Priti Patel on Thursday denounced the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed lives of 26 people. She was speaking at the UK Parliament. Patel called on the British government to back India during the difficult times and said that the two countries should join hands to combat the threats posed by terrorist.
Patel said that her condolences, thoughts and prayers were also with all those affected by the murderous, violent terrorism that has taken place in Pahalgam. “And I recognise that for India and the communities in the UK in particular, this has been a really difficult week. This was an act of terrorism and we should call it out for exactly for what it is. And it is part of a long-standing pattern of attacks on civilians, visitors to the region and also minority communities,” she added.
‘India-UK’s security, counterterrorism partnerships go back to 2002’
The MP mentioned how the India-UK strategic relationship has evolved, from the New Delhi Declaration in 2002 to the UK-India 2030 Roadmap.
Patel said: “We have a series of long-standing security and counterterrorism partnerships with India going back to the New Delhi Declaration in 2002 and the India-UK Strategic Partnership in 2016, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in 2022, and the UK India 2030 roadmap agreed under the last government. So, under that, security arrangements have been absolutely watertight, which is why we must always be in lockstep with our friends in India.”
My thoughts continue to be with those affected by the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We must stand with our Indian friends at this time. In the House of Commons I pressed the UK Government on what they are doing to support the Government of India in response, and how we can work… pic.twitter.com/3ksQ2eUe4Y
— Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) April 30, 2025
Patel pressed the UK government for information on persons responsible for carrying out the terror attacks.
She said: “Does the government believe the LeT, the terrorist group proscribed in the UK, bears responsibility, or is the government aware of any cross-border links to Pakistan of the perpetrators of this terrorist act? We know the Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, but has the UK provided any specific support in response to this terror attack and taken any practical steps to assist our friends in India?”
