Says UK, US Working for Sustained India-Pakistan Dialogue
Islamabad (TDI): In a first since 2021, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom has come to Pakistan on a two-day official visit.
The visit comes at a time when India and Pakistan have agreed to a ‘fragile ceasefire’ after direct limited military confrontation, that surpassed the expectations of many and alarmed the influential capitals of the world.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, met the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Ishaq Dar, at the Foreign Office, in addition to his engagements with the consular staff at UK’s High Commission in Islamabad.
Important visit to Pakistan following the hugely welcome ceasefire with India.
Because of the deep links between our countries, the UK is determined to play our part with India, Pakistan and international partners to help counter terrorism and ensure this peace lasts. pic.twitter.com/vtDO5vnZ8q
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) May 17, 2025
He also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and “highlighted the immeasurable contribution people of Pakistani descent have made to British life and he acknowledged how distressing the past few weeks have been” for Pakistanis living in the UK.
UK is home to a a large number of Pakistani and Indian origin citizens, and is constantly held to account on the role it plays between the two countries, especially when it enjoys a friendly relationship with both.
Last week, when the US helped broker a quick ceasefire at the height of military confrontation, on May 10, the role of UK wasn’t exactly pronounced.
But with Lammy’s visit, it seems the UK is serious about facilitating sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan, in close collaboration with the United States.
Read More: India Advances Plans to Divert Pakistan’s Water
Lammy himself termed the visit “important,” and important it is indeed as more and more reports surface indicating India’s plans to divert and block Pakistan’s water flow, guaranteed under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.
As India becomes more serious with its infrastructural plans to hold Pakistan’s water downstream, possibility of an even more intense conflict becomes real, since Pakistan made it clear that water stoppage will be considered “an act of war.”
“It’s positive that India and Pakistan – both great friends to the UK – have agreed to a pause in hostilities and that the ceasefire is holding,” Lammy said.
He expressed London’s “determination” to “play their part to counter terrorism and ensure this fragile ceasefire becomes a durable peace.”
Nuzhat Rana is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
