"we must always be in lockstep with our friends in India."
Priti Patel condemned the Pahalgam attack that saw 26 people killed, describing it as “an act of terrorism”.
Speaking in Parliament on April 30, 2025, Patel called on the British government to stand with India and strengthen joint efforts to address security threats.
Patel said: “Speaker, my condolences, thoughts and prayers are also with all those affected by this murderous, violent terrorism that has taken place in Pahalgam.
“And I recognise that for India and the communities in the UK in particular, this has been a really difficult week.
“This was an act of terrorism and we should call it out for exactly for what it is.
“And it is part of a long-standing pattern of attacks on civilians, visitors to the region and also minority communities.”
She highlighted the long history of bilateral security cooperation between the UK and India, referencing a series of strategic agreements stretching back more than two decades.
Priti Patel continued: “We have a series of long-standing security and counterterrorism partnerships with India going back to the New Delhi Declaration in 2002 and the India-UK Strategic Partnership in 2016, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in 2022, and the UK India 2030 roadmap agreed under the last government.
“So, under that, security arrangements have been absolutely watertight, which is why we must always be in lockstep with our friends in India.”
Priti Patel also pressed ministers for details on the UK’s understanding of the perpetrators and their affiliations.
She questioned whether the UK believes the attack may be linked to proscribed groups or have cross-border elements.
She asked: “Does the government believe the LeT, the terrorist group proscribed in the UK, bears responsibility, or is the government aware of any cross-border links to Pakistan of the perpetrators of this terrorist act?
“We know the Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, but has the UK provided any specific support in response to this terror attack and taken any practical steps to assist our friends in India?”
Patel also noted the timing of the attack as it happened whilst US Vice-President JD Vance was visiting India.
“Has the Government got a view on whether this is a coincidence or does it demonstrate a pattern of targeted and deliberately timed attacks?”
My thoughts continue to be with those affected by the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We must stand with our Indian friends at this time. In the House of Commons I pressed the UK Government on what they are doing to support the Government of India in response, and how we can work… pic.twitter.com/3ksQ2eUe4Y
— Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) April 30, 2025
She raised concerns about potential implications for British national security.
“Has the government made an assessment of the relationship between groups causing terror and destabilisation in Kashmir and those pursuing violence and terrorism that threaten our interests and global peace and security?
“Can the minister give an update on the actions being taken to prevent tensions from escalating to communities in the UK, including protections of the High Commission, which has already been mentioned?
“And will the UK leverage its influence in easing tensions between India and Pakistan?”
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