British MP Priti Patel Voices Strong Support for India's Right to Self-Defence
During a significant debate in the United Kingdom's House of Commons on Wednesday, May 7th, prominent British-Indian Member of Parliament and Shadow Foreign Secretary, Priti Patel, unequivocally supported India's inherent right to defend itself against terrorism. Her intervention addressed the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22nd Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent retaliatory "Operation Sindoor."
Patel Affirms India's Actions
Ms. Patel asserted that India was justified in taking "reasonable and proportionate" measures to dismantle what she termed the "vile terrorist infrastructure" operating across the Line of Control.5 Referencing the historical context of terrorism affecting India, she stated, "Terrorists based in Pakistan threaten India and Western interests," and highlighted the long-standing security cooperation between the UK and India. She condemned the "barbaric and savage" Pahalgam attack, where 26 tourists were killed, and urged the British government to clarify its potential support in preventing further escalation and to provide an official assessment of the incident. "The UK must ensure its approach is grounded in realism about the threat India faces," Patel emphasized.
UK Government and Other Parliamentary Opinions
Responding for the UK government, Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer reiterated the official position of urging restraint on both India and Pakistan. He confirmed that "extended discussions" had occurred with Pakistani officials concerning internal terror threats and the necessity to combat extremism. While other MPs, like Conservative Bob Blackman, firmly supported India's actions demanding the removal of "terrorist bases," some, including Labour MP Jas Athwal and several MPs of Pakistani origin, expressed concerns about the scale of retaliation and the risks of conflict between nuclear-armed states, urging a focus on de-escalation and diplomacy.
The debate in the UK Parliament reflected a spectrum of views on the heightened India-Pakistan situation. Priti Patel's strong articulation of India's right to self-defence against terrorism provided a significant voice of support, while the UK government maintained its official stance of advocating for de-escalation and diplomatic engagement from all parties involved.
