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Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who is Colonel Taimur Rahat, Pak diplomat who made ‘throat-slit' gesture in London?
During a protest held by members of the Indian community outside the Pakistan High Commission in London last week to denounce the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Colonel Taimur Rahat, a senior officer in the Pakistan Army, was filmed making threatening gestures toward the demonstrators. In widely circulated videos on social media, Colonel Rahat was seen publicly making a 'throat-slit gesture' directed at the Indian protesters on Friday. He was also spotted holding a poster featuring a sketch of IAF pilot Captain Abhinandan Varthaman with the phrase 'Chai is Fantastic', a reference to the pilot's time in Pakistani custody in February 2019. According to news agency ANI, Colonel Taimur Rahat currently holds the position of Pakistan Army and Air Advisor at the Pakistan High Commission in London. His name is also listed on the official website of the Pakistan High Commission in London as one of its officers. He is part of the Defence Wing at the High Commission in the UK. Rahat is married to Maham Taimur. In May last year, Maham Taimur was seen organising a 'social event' at the High Commission 'to celebrate the exquisiteness, diversity, talent and allure of Pakistan and its people.' The occasion had Sarah Naeem, the spouse of the High Commissioner, as the Chief Guest. More than 500 British Hindus gathered outside the Pakistan High Commission in London on Friday to protest the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. Waving Indian flags and holding placards, the demonstrators mourned the victims and demanded accountability. They raised slogans denouncing terrorism and accused Pakistan of harbouring and supporting terror organisations behind such attacks. Protesters also criticised the Pakistan High Commission for playing loud music and making inappropriate remarks during a time of national grief. The Indian diaspora called on the UK government to summon Pakistan's High Commissioner for a formal explanation. They also urged Pakistan to publicly denounce the killings, stop sponsoring terrorism, and ensure the perpetrators and their supporters are brought to justice through international diplomatic pressure. In response to the attack, India initiated several diplomatic steps: it shut down the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani citizens—giving them 40 hours to leave the country—and reduced staff at both nations' High Commissions. India also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a water-sharing agreement signed in 1960 after nine years of talks facilitated by the World Bank, in reaction to the Pahalgam attack.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pahalgam attack: Indian, Pakistani protesters face off in London; Pak diplomatic official makes threatening gestures
There was a face-off between Indian diaspora groups who gathered to protest Pakistan-backed terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and counter-protesters outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, which saw scenes of a Pakistani diplomatic official making threatening gestures. In videos posted by Indian community groups from Friday (April 25, 2025) evening's protest on social media, the Pakistani official can be seen taunting them from the balcony of the mission building at Lowndes Square. Pahalgam terror attack LIVE He was holding a poster with a sketch of Captain Abhinandan Varthaman and the words 'Chai is Fantastic' – a reference to the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot's captivity in February 2019. The official, standing next to a large banner reading 'Pakistan stands with Kashmiris', could be seen making a threatening throat-slitting gesture towards the Indian protesters across the building. Pakistan Army's Defence Attache at their UK Mission threateningly gestures towards Indians protesting against the Pahalgam terror attack. From the poster, to the cup of tea, to now gesticulating as if slitting someone's throat: this is Pakistan Army's Col Taimur Rahat. — Padmaja Joshi (@PadmajaJoshi) April 26, 2025 There was a strong Metropolitan Police security detail in place, with several officers lined up between both groups of demonstrators to ensure order. The tense face-off saw Indians waving placards calling on Pakistan to 'End Terror on Kashmir' alongside the Indian national flag. 'Holding the Indian tricolour and placards reading 'Stop Terrorism', we are here to condemn the killing of innocents by Pakistan's support of terrorism in Kashmir. We demand strict international action and urge the UK government to stand with India and reconsider its policy towards Pakistan,' said a spokesperson for the Friends of India Society International (FISI) UK. 'In a shocking and utterly deplorable display, a member of the Pakistani High Commission in the UK brandished a photo of India's Wing Commander Abhinandan and made a barbaric throat-slitting gesture during a protest over the Pahalgam attack — an act that reflects not only blatant hostility but also a dangerous disregard for diplomatic norms and human decency,' the spokesperson added. "Join us to stand for unity, justice and humanity and protest against terror attacks on innocents," read the flyers outside the Pakistan High Commission in London. The Pakistani counter-protesters had organised loudspeakers and were blaring patriotic songs in an attempt to drown out the Indian protesters' anti-terror sloganeering and speeches. At least one arrest was reported after a protester was chased down by some police officers and detained on the grounds of racial abuse. The protest entitled "All Eyes on Pahalgam" was called in response to the April 22 attack, which killed 26 people in Kashmir's Pahalgam.
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Pahalgam attack protest turns tense in London; Pak diplomat makes throat-slitting gesture at Indians
LONDON: There was a face-off between Indian diaspora groups who gathered to protest Pakistan-backed terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and counter-protesters outside the Pakistan High Commission here, which saw scenes of a Pakistani diplomatic official making threatening gestures. In videos posted by Indian community groups from Friday evening's protest on social media, the Pakistani official can be seen taunting them from the balcony of the mission building at Lowndes Square. He was holding a poster with a sketch of Captain Abhinandan Varthaman and the words 'Chai is Fantastic' – a reference to the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot's captivity in February 2019. The official, standing next to a large banner reading 'Pakistan stands with Kashmiris', could be seen making a threatening throat-slitting gesture towards the Indian protesters across the building. There was a strong Metropolitan Police security detail in place, with several officers lined up between both groups of demonstrators to ensure order. The tense face-off saw Indians waving placards calling on Pakistan to 'End Terror on Kashmir' alongside the Indian national flag. 'Holding the Indian tricolour and placards reading 'Stop Terrorism', we are here to condemn the killing of innocents by Pakistan's support of terrorism in Kashmir. We demand strict international action and urge the UK government to stand with India and reconsider its policy towards Pakistan,' said a spokesperson for the Friends of India Society International (FISI) UK. 'In a shocking and utterly deplorable display, a member of the Pakistani High Commission in the UK brandished a photo of India's Wing Commander Abhinandan and made a barbaric throat-slitting gesture during a protest over the Pahalgam attack — an act that reflects not only blatant hostility but also a dangerous disregard for diplomatic norms and human decency,' the spokesperson added. "Join us to stand for unity, justice and humanity and protest against terror attacks on innocents," read the flyers outside the Pakistan High Commission in London. The Pakistani counter-protesters had organised loudspeakers and were blaring patriotic songs in an attempt to drown out the Indian protesters' anti-terror sloganeering and speeches. At least one arrest was reported after a protester was chased down by some police officers and detained on the grounds of racial abuse. The protest entitled "All Eyes on Pahalgam" was called in response to the April 22 attack, which killed 26 people in Kashmir's Pahalgam. A group named The Resistance Front, believed to be an offshoot of the banned Pakistan-linked Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
