Daijiworld Media Network - London
London, Apr 26: UK Conservative Party leader and Member of Parliament Bob Blackman on Saturday expressed strong support for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the fight against Islamist terrorist organisations, following the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this week. Blackman called for the dismantling of terrorist camps in Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) and stressed the need to eradicate the terror threat to India once and for all.
Speaking exclusively, Blackman endorsed Prime Minister Modi’s position and said that the terrorists who "deliberately targeted Hindus and non-Muslims" must be pursued relentlessly, along with those who aided them. He offered his condolences to the victims and their families, describing the attack as a cowardly and deliberate assault.
"My sincere condolences to the families, the victims, and all their relatives. This was a cowardly attack, deliberately targeting Hindus and non-Muslims. We know that a Christian man was brutally murdered as well. This was not a sporadic act but a planned assault aimed at Hindu men," Blackman said. He further noted the significance of the growing opposition from within India’s Muslim community against threats from Pakistan-backed terrorist groups.
The horrific attack, which left 26 innocent tourists dead and many others injured, took place in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. Four heavily armed terrorists, including two from Pakistan, opened fire indiscriminately on the tourists, in what is being described as one of the most gruesome attacks in the region’s recent history.
Blackman emphasized that the world must support India's right to defend itself. He stated that when the Indian government and Army take action, it is vital that the free world stands by them in the fight against terrorism. "The Indian government and Army must act, and every government that supports freedom must stand with India to eliminate this terror threat," he said.
He pointed out that the attackers used sophisticated weaponry, suggesting that such arms were supplied by the Pakistani military or allied forces. "These four individuals were armed with sophisticated weapons, which must have been provided by forces such as the Pakistani army or other such actors," Blackman remarked. He insisted that Pakistan must dismantle the terrorist camps along the LoC, failing which, India would be justified in taking direct action.
Blackman, a recipient of India’s Padma Shri award, had earlier urged the UK government to back India in ensuring that those responsible for the Pahalgam massacre are brought to justice. Reaffirming his solidarity, he attended a commemorative ceremony hosted by the Indian High Commission in London on Thursday in memory of the victims.