The reverberations of the brutal terrorist attack in Kashmir’s tourist hotspot of Pahalgam are being felt the world over, with British Indian diaspora groups expressing their shock and horror at the gruesome fatal shooting of 26 innocent victims and several injuries.
At the official level, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “horrific” and “utterly devastating” and Foreign Secretary David Lammy dubbed it “cowardly” act – which has since been claimed by the Resistance Front, linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit.
Both the Labour Friends of India (LFIN) and Conservative Friends of India (CFIN) strongly condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with India.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with India in this hour of grief. Such acts of terror will never defeat the values of peace and democracy,” stated LFIN.
The organisation’s chair, Rajesh Agrawal, added: “Shocked and deeply pained by the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.
“My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the swift recovery of the injured.”
“Violence has no place in a just and peaceful society. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with all those affected,” stated the diaspora body,” reads the CFIN statement.
The Friends of India Society International (FISI) UK strongly condemned the attack, demanding immediate action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“FISI UK strongly condemns the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and demands immediate action to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. Such a sinister agenda will never succeed — they must be held to account,” the diaspora group said.
“Today, we mourn the loss of our Hindu brothers and sisters who were brutally taken from us in Kashmir Terrorist attack,” British Indians Voice said.
“To the terrorists: you will never kill our spirit. Kashmir bleeds, but we will rise — stronger, united, unbreakable,” they added, along with a prayer for the innocent victims.
Community organisation INSIGHT UK strongly condemned the “genocidal manner” of the attack, which it said had “selectively targeted Hindus”.
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“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the attacks. Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti,” it noted.
The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia to fly back to New Delhi as high-level meetings remain ongoing as the country comes to terms with one of deadliest attacks in the region in years.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said the London-headquartered organisation “stands in solidarity with the people of India at this time”.
She stated: “We are united in our determination today. The Commonwealth speaks with one voice that the terrorists will not succeed in their divisive mission to undermine our Commonwealth Charter values of peace, inclusiveness, tolerance, respect and understanding.
“We reiterate our absolute condemnation of all acts of terrorism in whatever form or wherever they occur or by whomsoever perpetrated, with the consequent tragic loss of life and human suffering.”
