UK International Secretary engages in diplomatic talks with India, Pakistan amid Pahalgam terror assault fallout

Within the wake of the lethal cross-border terror assault in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, UK International Secretary David Lammy held discussions with India’s Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The talks targeted on the growing tensions between India and Pakistan, with each events addressing the safety state of affairs within the area, together with the position of cross-border terrorism.

On Sunday, S. Jaishankar took to social media to share particulars of his phone dialog with Lammy. “Spoke to International Secretary David Lammy of the UK at the moment. Mentioned the cross-border terrorist assault at Pahalgam. Underlined the significance of zero tolerance for terrorism,” Jaishankar wrote on X.

The Pahalgam assault on April 22 focused vacationers and resulted within the tragic deaths of 26 folks, together with one Nepalese nationwide. The assault has been one of many deadliest within the area because the 2019 Pulwama assault. The victims had been killed close to Baisaran Meadow, a well-liked vacationer spot in Jammu and Kashmir. Within the aftermath, India has condemned the assault, which it believes has cross-border hyperlinks, and vowed to punish these chargeable for the violence.

Jaishankar reiterated India’s stance of “zero tolerance” in the direction of terrorism throughout his dialog with Lammy, emphasizing that such assaults is not going to go unpunished. The UK International Secretary’s dialog with Dar additionally centred across the want for de-escalation, with Lammy calling for a peaceable decision to the heightened tensions.

Within the wake of the assault, India took a collection of punitive measures in opposition to Pakistan, together with suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, downgrading diplomatic ties, and shutting the Attari border crossing. Pakistan has responded by closing its airspace to Indian flights and halting all commerce with India. Islamabad has additionally rejected India’s transfer on the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a violation of worldwide agreements.

Pakistan’s International Workplace launched an announcement saying that Deputy Prime Minister Dar spoke with Lammy and reiterated Pakistan’s place on defending its nationwide pursuits whereas selling peace within the area. The assertion additionally highlighted Pakistan’s considerations relating to India’s “unilateral” actions, together with the suspension of the water treaty.

As worldwide condemnation of the Pahalgam assault continues to pour in, the Dawoodi Bohra group in Queens, New York, and several other Canadian communities have organized vigils to honour the victims. In the meantime, Nepalese lawmakers have additionally condemned the assault, providing condolences to the victims’ households.

The state of affairs stays extremely risky, with international leaders together with US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing help for India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ deal with, reiterated that these chargeable for the Pahalgam assault will face the “harshest response.”

India continues to name for a united international effort in opposition to terrorism, as tensions rise between the 2 nuclear-armed neighbours, India and Pakistan.

(ANI inputs)