London [UK] – Members of the Indian diaspora in the UK held a peaceful yet powerful protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in London on Friday, expressing solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and demanding justice.
Holding Indian flags, banners, and placards, protesters condemned terrorism and accused Pakistan of supporting and sheltering terror groups. Demonstrators chanted patriotic slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Pakistan Murdabad”, while some held signs reading “I am Hindu” to showcase their identity in protest against religiously motivated violence.
One protester told ANI:
“We Indians have gathered here to hold a protest against Pakistan. They (Pakistan) have nurtured a terror factory, and because of which our 26 people were killed in Pahalgam. We have gathered to protest against it.”
Another protester added:
“The whole Indian community staying in the UK is agitated because of the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam. So, we are protesting outside the Pakistan Embassy here. We have gathered here to express our solidarity and respect. This is a peaceful protest, which has the participation of all Indians.”
An Indo-Jewish protester voiced solidarity, drawing parallels between the Pahalgam attack and the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel in 2023:
“We have a big Jewish community over here which is always supporting India because we have the same enemy, Islamist radicalization. It is the same thing all over. Israel faced it in 7th October and when I saw this happened in India, it reminded me of that, terrorists coming and killing innocent people and this terrorism is fed by the Pakistani Islamist regime and we will be here with the Indians supporting Indians all the time. And Modi is doing great work.”
He further shared a personal account of surviving a bomb blast:
“He does something and stops this terrorism happening all the time, again and I was caught in a bomb blast in Bombay in the 90s. Just kind of escaped. And I know from personally how a bomb can affect people and how terrorism can affect people. This will be there always. We have the same enemy. We will be always together.”
The protest was marked by unity, with participation across age groups and communities, and was held in remembrance of the victims.
Background:
On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, and injuring several others.
In response, the Indian government initiated several diplomatic measures:
- Closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari
- Suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals
- A 40-hour deadline for Pakistani nationals to leave India
- Reduction in diplomatic staff in both High Commissions
Additionally, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement facilitated by the World Bank that governs the distribution of river waters between India and Pakistan. The treaty had long survived previous conflicts and tensions between the two countries.