Senior Tories Weigh Into India-Pakistan Conflict Despite UK Position – Guido Fawkes

Senior Tories Weigh Into India-Pakistan Conflict Despite UK Position

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When the India-Pakistan conflict broke out, the assumption was Labour’s internal factional tension over Kashmir would bubble over into problems for Starmer. Not so much, it’s actually senior Tories who are weighing in and making waves…

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took to X to declare that India’s latest military actions were “justified”, saying:

“No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from land controlled by another country. India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the 1922 Committee Bob Blackman told Indian news channel Firstpost that countries should support India’s military action:

“We should encourage Pakistan to do the right thing and that is to stop promoting terrorism from the illegally occupied part of Kashmir that Pakistan currently occupies and encourage countries from around the world to give support to what India has done. I think Pakistan needs to come clean.”

Such statements are rather at odds with the official UK government position – and certainly wouldn’t be made by the Foreign Office. Starmer has said both sides must show “restraint”, calling for “calm” and “direct dialogue” between the two, No10 has said it is “not for the UK to provide a solution” to the long-standing dispute over Kashmir. Meanwhile Labour MP Tahir Ali used his time in the Commons on Wednesday to lay into Indian PM Modi’s record, declaring: “Kashmir has never been part of India and never will be, so that can remain a distant dream.” This one will keep running as the conflict continues..