United Kingdom Overseas Secretary David Lammy praised each India and Pakistan throughout his go to to Pakistan on Friday for taking steps to “safe an settlement to stop hostilities.”
Throughout talks with senior leaders in Pakistan, together with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Lammy acknowledged how tough the current tensions have been, particularly for folks in each international locations and the British Indian and British Pakistani communities.
He additionally reaffirmed the UK’s robust ties with India and famous that he has been in common contact with Indian officers, with plans to go to New Delhi quickly to strengthen UK-India relations additional.
The UK’s Overseas, Commonwealth, and Improvement Workplace mentioned in a press release on Friday, “The UK Authorities welcomed the sustained ceasefire between Pakistan and India, each essential companions to the UK, with the Overseas Secretary asserting the significance of continued stability for the area throughout a go to to Pakistan right now (Might 16).”
The assertion added, “The Overseas Secretary praised the steps taken by each Pakistan and India to safe an settlement to stop hostilities. In conferences with senior counterparts, together with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Overseas Secretary highlighted the immeasurable contribution folks of Pakistani descent have made to British life, and he acknowledged how distressing the previous few weeks have been for folks in each international locations, and for these with Pakistani and Indian heritage within the UK. The Overseas Secretary mirrored that the British Pakistani and British Indian diasporas would significantly welcome information of the ceasefire and elevated stability for Pakistan and India.”
The assertion additional mentioned that the Overseas Secretary has been in frequent contact with the Authorities of India and can look to journey to New Delhi quickly.
“Whereas in Islamabad, the Overseas Secretary additionally met with consular employees working on the UK’s Excessive Fee who helped British nationals in Pakistan in the course of the tensions, to make sure that they had entry to correct, up-to-date info and recommendation,” the assertion added.
Lammy, throughout his go to, had mentioned that the current photos of battle have been deeply distressing, particularly for the hundreds of thousands of British residents with Indian and Pakistani heritage, in addition to for British nationals dwelling within the area. He burdened that the UK has been actively working to scale back tensions and condemn terrorism following the lethal assault in Pahalgam.
“The photographs of battle between India and Pakistan have been distressing for all of us in Britain: however particularly the hundreds of thousands of Brits with Indian and Pakistani heritage, and the numerous British nationals dwelling in each of those international locations. Ever because the horrendous terrorist assault in Pahalgam, the UK has completed all it will probably to play a supportive position to scale back tensions, get to a ceasefire and condemn terrorism. It is constructive that India and Pakistan – each nice mates to the UK – have agreed to a pause in hostilities and that the ceasefire is holding,” Lammy mentioned.
He added, “Due to the deep and historic hyperlinks between our populations and our governments, we’re decided to play our half to counter terrorism and guarantee this fragile ceasefire turns into a sturdy peace.”
Tensions between India and Pakistan heightened after a lethal assault in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 folks. India accused Pakistan of supporting the assault, resulting in a collection of diplomatic and navy actions, together with the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and Operation Sindoor.
After the extreme cross-border hostilities between India and Pakistan, a cessation of hostilities was brokered on Might 10.