Ex-UK PM Rishi Sunak backs India over Operation Sindoor, says 'no nation should accept terrorist attacks'

Sunak said India is "justified" in striking terrorist infrastructure.

"No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from land controlled by another country. There can be no impunity for terrorists," the former UK PM wrote in a post on X.

Sunak earlier had condemned the "barbaric" attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 civilians were killed. He also affirmed that the UK stands in solidarity with India.

"The barbaric attack in Pahalgam has stolen the lives of newlyweds, children, and families simply seeking joy. Our hearts break for them. To those mourning - know that the UK stands with you in sorrow and solidarity. Terror will never win. We grieve with India," he had said.

Meanwhile, UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that his country is ready to support both India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions.

"Our message would be that we are a friend, a partner to both countries. We stand ready to support both countries. Both have a huge interest in regional stability, in dialogue, in de-escalation and anything we can do to support that, we are here and willing to do," he told BBC radio.

The Foreign Office advised British nationals to avoid travelling within eight kilometres of the India-Pakistan border, within 16 kilometres of the Line of Control - a heavily fortified zone of high-altitude Himalayan outposts that represents the de facto Kashmir border - and all travel to the southwestern Balochistan province of Pakistan.

Operation Sindoor

Nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were targeted and destroyed in 25 minutes of Operation Sindoor, which was conducted from 1:05 am on Wednesday by all three wings of the Indian armed forces.

According to a statement by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the operation was aimed at neutralizing terror camps actively involved in planning and executing attacks against India.

At a press briefing with the Army, India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri said, "The attack in Pahalgam was marked by extreme barbarity, with the victims mostly killed with head shots from close range and in front of their family...the family members were deliberately traumatised through the manner of killing, accompanied by the exhortation that they should take back the message. The attack was clearly driven by the objective of undermining normalcy returning to Kashmir..."

"Our intelligence monitory of Pakistan-based terrorist modules indicated that further attacks against India are impending. Thus, compulsion, both to deter and pre-empt. Earlier this morning, India exercised its right to respond and pre-empt as well as deter more such cross-border attacks.... These actions were measured and non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible. They focused on dismantling terrorists' infrastructure."

He added, "It was deemed essential that the perpetrators and planners of the 22nd attack be brought to justice. Despite a fortnight having passed since the attack, there has been no demonstrable step from Pakistan against terrorists' infrastructure in its area."