Pakistanis protest outside Indian High Commission in London
A large protest was held outside the Indian High Commission in Aldwych, London, organised by the UK chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The demonstration was in response to what organisers described as "baseless allegations" made by India against Pakistan following the April 22 incident in Pahalgam, located in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Protesters waved Pakistani flags and carried placards while chanting slogans such as 'Pakistan Zindabad,' 'Kashmir belongs to Pakistan,' and 'Down with Indian terrorism.'
They also raised chants supporting Pakistan's military leadership. Slogans were also directed against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Hindutva ideology, including 'Modi is a terrorist' and 'Reject Hindutva ideology.'
Ahsan Dar, president of PML-N UK, addressed the crowd and said the gathering was a reflection of overseas Pakistanis' connection with their homeland.
He accused India of launching a false flag campaign by blaming Pakistan without presenting any evidence regarding the Pahalgam incident.
Dar also noted that members from various political groups, including PTI and PML-N, participated in the protest, calling it a sign of national unity.
The protest remained peaceful but drew media attention. London police were present at the site and managed the security.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
16 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
No Air Force One yet; optics secured
The writer is an Economist based in Islamabad. For insights and updates, follow on Twitter: @SalmanAneel or reach out via email at aneelsalman@ Is he coming or not? The question is hanging in Islamabad's diplomatic air like smog before monsoon. No official itinerary. No confirmation. And yet, the entire capital is abuzz with speculation, prepping for the possibility that Donald J Trump may soon be setting foot on Pakistani soil — with a camera crew in tow. Top media outlets have already done the classic Islamabad two-step: break the story, then retract it. The White House issued a dry-as-toast denial: "No trip scheduled at this time." But with Trump, absence of confirmation often is the confirmation. Denial, after all, is part of the build-up. Because Trump is not a president in the conventional sense. He is a performer playing a president, on a stage where policy is the prop and optics are the plot. Let's rewind the show. In June, Trump rolled out the red carpet for Pakistan's Army Chief at the White House — a move so unorthodox under a civilian government that even the most seasoned analysts blinked twice. Then came the hammer on India. First a 25% tariff, and then an additional 25% blow for Delhi's ongoing flirtation with Russian oil. And in the same breath, Trump was touting a "massive oil exploration deal" with Pakistan. He even brokered the Indo-Pak ceasefire in May which he keeps mentioning in his speeches. This isn't diplomacy. It's pageantry, choreographed to disrupt the old order while staging a new one — centred entirely around Trump. If the visit materialises, expect theatre. Not handshakes over policy documents, but a fireworks display of "deals" and declarations. A press conference about American companies exploring Pakistan's untapped oil reserves — even if the oil's more rumour than resource. Trump doesn't care about whether deals are signed or implemented. He cares that the announcement makes a splash. And he'll certainly paint the Pakistan visit as a strategic masterstroke. "We punished India, and look — Pakistan welcomed us." Expect a trade narrative: crypto, IT, minerals. Expect energy promises. Expect vintage Trump logic, where tariffs on one partner prove that another was the better option all along. He may even try to revive his peace-broker persona. Cue a speech at a local university, maybe even a soundbite about deserving the Nobel Prize. But beneath the showmanship, Pakistan must ask: what's really on offer? This is where we need to be careful. Trump is not pivoting to Pakistan because of shared values or vision. He's pivoting because we're currently the convenient headline. In this moment, Islamabad is not the favourite — it's the foil. And the minute the optics shift, so will the attention. So how should Pakistan play it? First, keep it real. If Trump wants a show, let him have it — but behind the curtains, ask for substance. Frame every conversation with facts, feasibility, and follow-up. Announcements are nice. Agreements are better. Second, use the spotlight. Push for serious engagement in energy, rare earths, Fintech. Pitch ourselves not as a hedge against India, but as a regional hub with value beyond geopolitics. Third, protect the sovereignty clause. This is not the moment to nod along to every soundbite. Make sure any cooperation is framed around mutual benefit — not someone else's election season optics. Finally, think beyond Trump. Engage Congress. Reconnect with think tanks. Make the case to American institutions that Pakistan isn't a wildcard, but a partner with a plan. Trump is just one act in the American playbook. We should be speaking to the full cast. Whether Air Force One lands or not, the stage is already set. The visit may be imaginary, but the impact isn't. For now, Trump has recast Pakistan not as a pariah, but as a possibility. For a transactional politician, that's as close to a compliment as it gets. And so we wait. For the motorcade that may never arrive. For the handshake that may remain hypothetical. But most of all, for the headlines that — confirmed visit or not — have already shifted the South Asian narrative. In the end, this is classic Trump. Promise big. Say little. Deliver drama. Whether or not Air Force One touches down at Nur Khan, one thing is clear: Trump's foreign policy was never about alliances. It was always about audience. And right now, Pakistan is in the spotlight. Let's not miss the cue.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan joins 'Global Sumud Flotilla' for Gaza aid
A three–six member Pakistani delegation, comprising doctors, media professionals, and social leaders, is participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla—an international mission aimed at breaking the siege of Gaza and delivering urgent humanitarian and medical assistance to Palestinians. This was announced by Pakistan Palestine Forum leader Wahaj Ahmed during a press conference at the National Press Club Islamabad, alongside Dr Osama Riaz, Ismail Khan, Syed Aziz Nizami, and Fahad Ishtiaq, who are part of the delegation, according to a press release issued last week. Read More: Thousands evacuate homes as fears of Israeli ground offensive grow in Gaza Ahmed further said that several prominent and active pro-Palestinian organisations in Pakistan have formed an alliance called the Palestine Action Coalition of Pakistan, which includes Blockout Tehreek, Pak Palestine Forum, Shaab Abi Talib Foundation, Youth Link Pakistan, Pakistan for Palestine, Together for Al-Quds, and others. Delegation members pledged to highlight Israeli atrocities and stand in solidarity with Palestinians, expressing their readiness to make any sacrifice for the cause. Delegations from 44 countries are participating in the mission, which also includes human rights activists and medical experts.
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
US Treasury chief Bessent accuses India of profiteering on Russian oil purchases
WASHINGTON: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday accused India of profiteering from its sharply increased purchases of Russian oil during the war in Ukraine, saying Washington viewed the situation as unacceptable. Bessent told CNBC in an interview that Russian oil now accounted for 42% of India's total oil purchases, up from under 1% before the war, and contrasted that with longtime buyer China, whose Russian oil purchases had increased to 16% from 13%. 'India is just profiteering. They are reselling,' Bessent said. 'What I would call Indian arbitrage - buying cheap Russian oil, reselling it as product has just sprung up during the war - which is unacceptable,' he said. U.S. President Donald Trump this month announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods as a punishment for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total additional tariffs announced since he took office to 50%. Trump has credited the Indian tariffs as piling pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to work toward ending the war in Ukraine, but has stopped short of imposing similar tariffs on China over its purchases of Russian oil. US adviser Navarro says India's Russian crude buying has to stop Bessent, asked about the Trump administration's failure to move ahead with similar tariffs on China, said the situation was 'completely different' given that Beijing was a longtime buyer and had not engaged in the kind of 'arbitrage' done by India. U.S.-India relations have been strained by Trump's tariffs after months of forecasts by the U.S. president and other officials that they were close to reaching an agreement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on a trade deal that would have lowered the tariff rate. India on Tuesday temporarily suspended an 11% import duty on cotton until September 30, a move seen as a signal to Washington that New Delhi is willing to address U.S. concerns on agricultural tariffs. It came after the abrupt cancellation of a planned visit by U.S. trade negotiators to New Delhi from August 25-29.
