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Members of the Indian and Pakistani communities in the UK have voiced their concerns following a surge in tensions between the two countries after a deadly attack in the disputed Kashmir region.
On April 22, a militant attack in the popular tourist town of Pahalgam resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians—the deadliest such incident in Indian-administered Kashmir since 2019. India has accused Pakistan of being behind the attack, an allegation Islamabad has firmly denied.
In response, both nations—armed with nuclear weapons—have taken severe diplomatic steps, including expelling each other’s diplomats and citizens, shutting down airspace, and, on India’s part, suspending a vital water-sharing agreement with Pakistan.
In East Ham, London, home to a large South Asian diaspora, calls for peace and stability are growing. Adil Iqbal Malik, a British Pakistani lawyer, described the situation as part of a long-standing conflict.
“This is not the first time tensions have flared. There have been multiple wars since 1947,” said Malik, who has lived in London for 12 years. He expressed deep concern for families living in the region, emphasizing the global risk posed by a potential conflict between two nuclear-armed countries.
Junaid Ali, a 45-year-old from Islamabad and a community leader in East Ham, also expressed concern over the escalating tensions. “We see the border strain every day in the news,” said Ali, who runs a local food bank and was recently honored with a British Empire Medal for his service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He highlighted the peaceful coexistence of Indian and Pakistani residents in Newham, saying, “Here, people from both countries live like brothers and sisters. There’s no conflict between us here. War won’t solve anything—dialogue is the only way forward.”
Devshi and Jayashree Khatani, an Indian couple living in East Ham, shared their fear over the possibility of war. “It’s tragic what happened in Kashmir. Those tourists were innocent,” said Jayashree. “We’re very worried this could escalate into something much worse.”
India and Pakistan have a history of hostility, having fought three wars—two of them over Kashmir—since their independence from British colonial rule in 1947. With tensions once again at a boiling point, the diaspora is pleading for peace over conflict.
