David Vance SubstackRead More
The escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, rooted in decades of territorial disputes over Kashmir, poses a risk of spilling over into the United Kingdom, potentially triggering civil unrest that could even resemble a low-scale civil war.
With large Indian and Pakistani diaspora communities—(1.9 million Indians and 1.7 million Pakistanis living in Britain as of 2021)—this geopolitical crisis threatens to inflame tensions on British streets.
This all started with the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, which killed 26 civilians, and this has further intensified hostilities. India’s retaliatory airstrikes and suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty have been labelled an “act of war” by Pakistan, raising fears of further escalation.
In the UK, these events have already sparked confrontations, as seen in London’s Lowndes Square, where Indian and Pakistani protesters clashed outside the Pakistan High Commission. A Pakistani diplomat’s alleged throat-slitting gesture toward Indian demonstrators has fuelled outrage, amplifying perceptions of Pakistani aggression.
Historical precedent suggests such tensions can erupt violently. In 2022, Leicester saw weeks of unrest between Hindu and Muslim youths following an India-Pakistan cricket match, with nearly 50 arrests.
The current crisis, far more severe, could exacerbate sectarian divides, particularly in cities like Birmingham and Bradford, where Pakistani communities are significant and as we saw last summer, very aggressive.
It is my experience that the British Indian community is usually well integrated, hard working, entrepreneurial and considerate. But they care passionately about India and they worry about Pakistani belligerence in the UK. The hotter things gets between India and Pakistan, the greater the prospect of conflict on British streets!
***I put out at least three articles a day. If you enjoy all this can I ask you to consider to becoming a PAID subscriber, it’s only £5 a month, you can cancel if you don’t enjoy it but I know you will. I want to thank the kind people who already do this, without your help this becomes impossible. Thank you in anticipation of your support**
Views: 40
