UK MP Priti Patel praises India's Operation Sindoor after Pahalgam attack, urges stronger UK-India counter-terror ties

UK Member of Parliament Priti Patel has called on the British government to enhance its counter-terrorism cooperation with India following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 tourists. Speaking in the UK House of Commons, Patel condemned the attack and asked a series of questions regarding the UK’s response, intelligence sharing, and aid monitoring involving Pakistan.

Condemnation of the attack and support for India’s right to defend itself

Patel expressed condolences for the victims and called the killings a “barbaric and savage act.” She noted that most of the victims were shot at point-blank range. Highlighting that Pahalgam had joined cities like Mumbai and New Delhi in being scarred by terrorism, Patel said India had the right to take proportionate steps to dismantle terror infrastructure threatening its people. She asked the UK to recognise the threat posed by Pakistan-based terror groups.

Demand for clarity on UK security assistance and terror links

Patel questioned whether the UK had offered any security assistance to India after the attack and whether intelligence services had engaged with their Indian counterparts. She asked if Britain could confirm whether the Resistance Front, which claimed responsibility for the attack, was linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. She also flagged Lashkar’s reported links with Hamas and pressed the government to confirm if it had any intelligence on cooperation between the two groups.

Questions on UK aid to Pakistan and terror infrastructure monitoring

The MP asked whether the UK had assessed the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and whether safeguards were in place to ensure British aid had not fallen into the wrong hands. She demanded updates on any discussions with Pakistan regarding terrorist activities and asked whether the UK government was monitoring the use of aid distributed via bilateral or multilateral sources.

Priti Patel | Credit: X

Concerns on escalation, diplomatic engagement, and diaspora impact

Patel raised concerns about rising tensions between India and Pakistan and asked what role the UK was playing to de-escalate the situation. She sought updates on diplomatic talks between the two countries and whether the UK had been informed in advance of India’s actions under Operation Sindoor. Patel also asked about additional consular support for British nationals in both countries and how diaspora communities in the UK were being protected from any fallout.

Request for government’s assessment on the attack

Finally, Patel requested the UK government to share its assessment on who was behind the Pahalgam attack and whether other malign actors were involved. She stressed that the government must clearly evaluate and communicate the security implications for the UK.

Meanwhile, Indian defence officials confirmed that the army is monitoring ceasefire violations by Pakistan following India's precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.