London: British MP Bob Blackman has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and urged the UK government to stand in solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism.
“I remain appalled by the terrorist attack in Pahalgam a few months ago, which took 26 innocent lives. I’m relieved that peace has held, but the truce remains fragile. As India seeks deeper security ties with the West, I urged the Govt to stand with India against terrorism,” the MP posted on X.
While speaking at the UK Parliament, Blackman said: “Similarly, we had the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam and India’s subsequent counter-terrorism action Operation Sindoor. I remain deeply appalled and saddened by the barbaric attack on the innocent tourists, which claimed the lives of 26 people. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones, and I continue to stand in solidarity with them and the people of India.”
“That truce is still very fragile and could return to war once again,” he warned.
“As someone who has stood with the Kashmir Pandits and their right to return to Kashmir Valley and India’s sovereign right to defend its people and territory, it is outrageous that this terrorism, sponsored by Pakistan, continues in Jammu and Kashmir,” Blackman said.
Calling for international support for India’s fight against terrorism, he said: “So it is right that we call on this and make sure we stand in solidarity with India.”
During India’s all-party delegation’s visit to the UK on June 3, Blackman, a member of that country’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)-India, had branded Pakistan a “failed state” and questioned whether “democracy or generals” were in charge, citing the military’s dominant role in governance.
“Pakistan is a failed state. We don’t have democracy in Pakistan. We have the people of parts of Pakistan, who are suffering under Pakistani military rule. So who’s in charge? Is it the democracy or the Generals? And it’s quite clear that terrorism is encouraged from Pakistan into sovereign India,” Blackman had told ANI at that time.
“And so we’ve got to make sure we have to call out the message that the illegal occupation of part of India in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan should end. Those troops should leave, and the whole of Jammu and Kashmir should be united as one principal state, as was intended back in 1947,” he had added.
The MP has also raised concerns about the misuse of international aid sent to Pakistan. “The money that’s sent to Pakistan, what is it used for? What it shouldn’t be used for is buying Chinese weapons that would then enable terrorists to attack India,” he said.
“I take a very strong view that our international aid money that should go to Pakistan should be going for the eradication of polio and other infectious diseases that benefit the people of Pakistan rather than it being used illicitly for military purposes,” Blackman had added.
