LONDON, May 16 (Alliance News): British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, calling it a “hugely welcome development” but cautioning that the situation remains fragile.
He affirmed the UK government’s commitment to working with international partners to help sustain peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Currently visiting Islamabad, Lammy told Geo News via phone that he has held meetings with top Pakistani officials, including discussions on the recent escalation with India. He emphasized that terrorism in all its forms must be condemned, saying, “The attacks in Pahalgam were horrific. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The UK continues to denounce terrorism unequivocally.”
While addressing India’s allegations against Pakistan, Lammy confirmed that the UK had not received any evidence from New Delhi linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident. “I wouldn’t expect India to share its national security matters with me,” he said, “but our priority is to help both countries maintain this ceasefire and ensure that militant threats are addressed.”
Lammy acknowledged Pakistan’s own challenges with terrorism and noted that both sides have shown “impressive leadership and statesmanship” in de-escalating tensions.
“It’s important that this ceasefire holds,” he added, highlighting the importance of confidence-building measures and dialogue.
He also touched on the broader UK-Pakistan relationship, noting his visit is the first by a British foreign secretary in four years. He plans to discuss bilateral cooperation in trade, culture, and development.
“There are deep connections between our two nations, and we are committed to supporting Pakistan on key issues,” he said.
The foreign secretary revealed that the recent tensions triggered over 2,000 calls from worried British-Pakistanis to the UK High Commission. “These communities were deeply concerned, but we are proud of how they handled the situation with responsibility.”
Lammy praised the Pakistani and Indian diaspora in the UK for maintaining peace despite emotional ties to their home countries. “Though we’ve seen troubling scenes from the region, our communities have acted with maturity,” he said.
