A peaceful demonstration outside Pakistan’s High Commission in London erupted in anger on Friday after a senior Pakistani military official, Colonel Taimur Rahat, was caught on camera making a throat-slitting gesture towards protesters.
Over 500 members of the British Indian community had gathered to demand justice following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians — 25 Indians and one Nepali — were killed during a pilgrimage. Several others were injured in what authorities have called a targeted, religiously motivated massacre.
The protest was marked by Indian flags, banners condemning terrorism, and calls for Pakistan to be held accountable for allegedly nurturing extremist groups. But tensions rose when, according to eyewitnesses, embassy staff played loud celebratory music during the event — a move seen as mocking the grief of the mourning families.
Colonel Rahat’s violent gesture was widely condemned online. Venture capitalist Tehseen Poonawalla called it “sick and disgusting,” while others pointed out how such behavior reflected broader patterns of intimidation linked to Pakistan’s treatment of dissent, particularly in regions like Balochistan.
Organisers of the protest said in a statement, “This was a peaceful call for justice. The embassy’s actions—blaring music and mocking the protest—were insensitive and shameful. While the world grieves, they chose to celebrate. It’s a shocking failure of basic human decency.”
Anger was not limited to the Indian community alone. Members of London’s Jewish community also joined the protest in solidarity, drawing strong parallels between the Pahalgam attack and Hamas’ assault on Israel in October 2023.
“We share the same pain,” said an Indo-Jewish protestor. “Radical Islamic terrorism threatens both our nations. I survived a bombing in Bombay in the ’90s, and seeing this brutality again is heartbreaking. We stand with India, and we stand with the victims.”
Calls for diplomatic action are now growing, with many urging the UK government to take a tougher stance in light of the High Commission’s conduct. Meanwhile, India has already begun implementing strong measures in response to the Pahalgam attack.