In the wake of renewed hostilities between India and Pakistan, the United Kingdom has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and has offered to support diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The conflict flared once more after India reportedly launched missile strikes overnight on Tuesday into Pakistan-administered territories, targeting at least six sites. Pakistani officials confirmed that 19 people were killed and 38 others injured in the strikes, with one of the most severe attacks hitting the Subhan Mosque in Bahawalpur, Punjab, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals, including a child.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif, stated that the Indian strikes targeted areas long associated with banned militant groups. In retaliation, Pakistani forces launched artillery and gunfire across the Line of Control (LoC), which separates the disputed Kashmir region, reportedly killing seven civilians and injuring 30 others in Poonch district on the Indian side.
Indian authorities said their response was proportionate and in reaction to unprovoked Pakistani aggression. However, tensions were already high following the massacre of 22 tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir last month—a brutal attack India blames on Pakistan-based militants, though Islamabad has strongly denied involvement.
Amid global anxiety about a possible war between the two South Asian giants, UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds addressed the crisis on Wednesday, saying the situation is “hugely worrying.” He revealed that UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy had already reached out to counterparts in both countries, emphasising the UK’s readiness to serve as a neutral partner in dialogue.
“We are a friend and partner to both countries,” Reynolds told the BBC. “We stand ready to support de-escalation and peace. Both nations have a vested interest in regional stability.”
The UK Foreign Office has since updated its travel advisory, warning against all travel within 10 kilometres of the India-Pakistan border and 10 miles from the Line of Control. It also noted that Pakistan had closed its airspace, urging British citizens affected by flight disruptions to contact their airlines.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, through spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, urged both sides to exercise “maximum military restraint” and warned that the world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, voices within the UK Parliament have echoed concerns. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Labour MP Stella Creasy called for diplomatic resolution, while former Conservative minister Lord Tariq Ahmad starkly warned that “the potential for war tonight is real.”
Tensions in Kashmir have remained a flashpoint between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947, with both countries claiming the region in full but controlling different parts. Armed conflict and insurgency have plagued the region for decades, and the presence of nuclear weapons on both sides raises global stakes significantly every time skirmishes erupt.
Pakistan’s state television also claimed on Wednesday that its air force had shot down five Indian fighter jets, though Indian authorities have not confirmed or denied the report. Aircraft wreckage was said to have fallen in two Indian-controlled villages shortly after the missile exchange.
As of press time, both countries remained on high alert, with no indication of immediate diplomatic talks. Analysts warn that continued military actions without international mediation could lead to wider conflict.