Did Pakistan Shelter Osama bin Laden? Priti Patel Supports India's Defense Rights

London, May 8 (NationPress) UK Conservative Party MP Priti Patel expressed her support for India, affirming its right to take appropriate and proportional measures to protect itself and dismantle the heinous terrorist infrastructure that has inflicted loss of life and continues to pose a threat. She criticized Pakistan for endangering India's security and Western interests by promoting terrorism.

These comments followed the recent launch of Operation Sindoor by the Indian armed forces, which targeted nine significant terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives.

In her address at the House of Commons, the UK's Shadow Foreign Secretary Patel conveyed her condolences to the victims of merciless terrorism in Pahalgam.

"This was an act of terror, and we must acknowledge that Pahalgam now joins the ranks of Mumbai, New Delhi, and other Indian cities that bear the scars of such violence," she stated.

"On April 22, terrorists ruthlessly murdered 26 tourists in Pahalgam in a brutal and barbaric act of violence. The majority of victims were executed at point-blank range with gunfire to their heads," she highlighted.

"Terrorists operating from Pakistan pose a threat not only to India but also to Western interests. It was the nation where Osama bin Laden was sheltered – and due to the longstanding history of violence inflicted by terrorists on India, the UK has established enduring security cooperation agreements with India," she added.

She further called on the government to collaborate with the UK's allies in addressing global terrorist threats.

"In light of these connections, the UK Government should lead efforts alongside our allies to confront the terrorist threats we face collectively," she emphasized.

She inquired whether the UK government had provided assistance to India following the brutal Pahalgam terror attack.

"The Minister may not be able to discuss intelligence sharing between the UK and India, but can he at least confirm whether our intelligence and security services have engaged with India regarding these recent incidents, and whether they are aiding its investigations? Has the government offered any specific security support to India in the wake of the terrorist attack in Kashmir? Could Britain provide particular assistance that might help prevent escalation?" she asked.

Pointing to the terrorist group The Resistance Front (TRF), which claimed responsibility for the attack, she further questioned, "Does the Minister concur with India’s assessment that The Resistance Front, which took credit for the April 22 attacks, is a front for the banned Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, known for its history of terror against India, and allegedly linked to Hamas?"

Commenting on the reported connections between Hamas and Lashkar-e-Taiba, Patel inquired, "Will the Minister confirm whether the UK government has any knowledge of cooperation and links between Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hamas?"

Patel also asked if the Foreign Secretary could provide evidence of discussions he held with Indian officials following the violent assault.

"Have Ministers conducted an assessment of the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan? Have they discussed this matter with the Pakistani government?" she questioned.

Raising concerns about UK aid to Pakistan, the Shadow Minister stated, "Can Ministers assure us that adequate measures are in place to ensure that no British aid to Pakistan, whether bilateral or through multilateral channels, ends up in the wrong hands?"

Patel also demanded a government assessment of the terror attack and the individuals responsible for it.