A peaceful demonstration by over 500 members of the Indian community outside Pakistan’s High Commission in London on Friday took a dark turn when Colonel Taimur Rahat, a senior Pakistani military official stationed at the embassy, was filmed making a throat-slitting gesture towards protestors.
The protest had been organised in response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people — including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen — were killed while on a pilgrimage to the scenic Baisaran meadow. Several others were injured in what officials described as a brutal, religiously-motivated assault.
Viral video sparks outrage
In widely shared videos circulating on social media, Colonel Rahat — the Pakistan Army and Air Advisor in London — is seen making the threatening gesture while holding a placard featuring Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman.
The visual triggered anger and disbelief online, drawing condemnation from the diaspora and beyond. Tehseen Poonawalla, a venture capitalist, posted, “What a sick disgusting man! Never seen this kind crazy, violent behavior from an army (defense) Attache.”
Another user commented, “The throat-slitting gesture is a stark reminder of the lack of civility among Pakistan's military and diplomatic figures. This isn’t just an isolated act, it mirrors the oppressive tactics used against peaceful protesters in Balochistan, where enforced disappearances and violence are rampant.”
Protestors demand accountability
The protestors waved Indian flags and held placards denouncing terrorism and demanding justice. Many directly accused Pakistan of fostering terror groups that target civilians.
“We Indians have gathered here to hold a protest against Pakistan. They (Pakistan) have nurtured a terror factory, and because of which 26 of our people were killed in Pahalgam. We have gathered to protest against it,” one protestor told ANI.
Another member of the crowd expressed anger over the embassy’s behaviour during the protest. "Today’s protest was a call for justice and accountability. However, in a disturbing and shameful turn of events, officials within the Pakistan Embassy were seen playing loud celebratory music during the protest—a tone-deaf and disgraceful act that added deep insult to an already grievous injury," the organiser said in a statement.
"While the world mourns the victims, the embassy's actions displayed a shocking lack of empathy and human decency. Organisers condemn the Embassy's insensitive behaviour amid national grief. This horrifying terror attack, allegedly linked to Pakistan-sponsored militants, has sparked global condemnation. Families on pilgrimage were brutally attacked—slaughtered simply for their faith."
Jewish community joins in solidarity
The protest also saw members of the Jewish community in London standing in solidarity with Indian protestors. Drawing parallels between the Pahalgam attack and the Hamas assault on Israel in October 2023, one Indo-Jewish protestor said, “We have a big Jewish community over here, which is always supporting India because we have the same enemy, Islamist radicalisation. It's the same everywhere. Israel faced it on 7th October, and when I saw this happen in India, it reminded me of that: terrorists coming and killing innocent people, and this terrorism is fed by the Pakistani Islamist regime, and we will be here with the Indians supporting Indians all the time. And Modi is doing great work.”
He added, “I was caught in a bomb blast in Bombay in the 90s. I escaped, but I know from personal experience how a bomb or a terrorist activity could affect people. We are here and we will always be together.”
Calls for UK action and Pakistani condemnation
Organisers demanded that the UK Government summon Pakistan’s High Commissioner for an official explanation. They urged Pakistan to publicly condemn the attack and cease support for militant groups.
“This is not just insensitivity—it is provocation. The Pakistani authorities have crossed every boundary of diplomacy and humanity. If Pakistan cannot condemn terror, they are complicit in it,” one organiser said.
India’s diplomatic fallout after Pahalgam attack
In the aftermath of the April 22 attack, India moved quickly to signal its displeasure through a range of diplomatic and policy responses. It shut down the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari and suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, giving them 40 hours to exit the country. The number of diplomatic staff in both countries’ missions was also reduced.
Perhaps most significantly, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty — a historic water-sharing agreement signed in 1960 with the help of the World Bank — underscoring the severity of its response to the attack.
The incident in London, featuring an on-record Pakistani military official making an explicit threat, adds a new layer of tension to already strained Indo-Pak relations. For British Indians and others gathered in London, the threat felt real, raw, and personal.
What was meant to be a solemn protest for the victims of terror instead became a moment that exposed deeper diplomatic fractures — right in the heart of London.
The protest had been organised in response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people — including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen — were killed while on a pilgrimage to the scenic Baisaran meadow. Several others were injured in what officials described as a brutal, religiously-motivated assault.
#BREAKING: Pakistan Army Defence Attache in London gestures towards Indian protestors to slit their throat publicly. This is Colonel Taimur Rahat of Pakistan Army, Air and Army Attache at Pakistan’s Mission in UK. No difference between a thug illiterate terrorist at this coward. pic.twitter.com/eZdRxqBN4q
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) April 25, 2025
Viral video sparks outrage
In widely shared videos circulating on social media, Colonel Rahat — the Pakistan Army and Air Advisor in London — is seen making the threatening gesture while holding a placard featuring Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman.
The visual triggered anger and disbelief online, drawing condemnation from the diaspora and beyond. Tehseen Poonawalla, a venture capitalist, posted, “What a sick disgusting man! Never seen this kind crazy, violent behavior from an army (defense) Attache.”
Another user commented, “The throat-slitting gesture is a stark reminder of the lack of civility among Pakistan's military and diplomatic figures. This isn’t just an isolated act, it mirrors the oppressive tactics used against peaceful protesters in Balochistan, where enforced disappearances and violence are rampant.”
Protestors demand accountability
The protestors waved Indian flags and held placards denouncing terrorism and demanding justice. Many directly accused Pakistan of fostering terror groups that target civilians.
“We Indians have gathered here to hold a protest against Pakistan. They (Pakistan) have nurtured a terror factory, and because of which 26 of our people were killed in Pahalgam. We have gathered to protest against it,” one protestor told ANI.
Another member of the crowd expressed anger over the embassy’s behaviour during the protest. "Today’s protest was a call for justice and accountability. However, in a disturbing and shameful turn of events, officials within the Pakistan Embassy were seen playing loud celebratory music during the protest—a tone-deaf and disgraceful act that added deep insult to an already grievous injury," the organiser said in a statement.
"While the world mourns the victims, the embassy's actions displayed a shocking lack of empathy and human decency. Organisers condemn the Embassy's insensitive behaviour amid national grief. This horrifying terror attack, allegedly linked to Pakistan-sponsored militants, has sparked global condemnation. Families on pilgrimage were brutally attacked—slaughtered simply for their faith."
Jewish community joins in solidarity
The protest also saw members of the Jewish community in London standing in solidarity with Indian protestors. Drawing parallels between the Pahalgam attack and the Hamas assault on Israel in October 2023, one Indo-Jewish protestor said, “We have a big Jewish community over here, which is always supporting India because we have the same enemy, Islamist radicalisation. It's the same everywhere. Israel faced it on 7th October, and when I saw this happen in India, it reminded me of that: terrorists coming and killing innocent people, and this terrorism is fed by the Pakistani Islamist regime, and we will be here with the Indians supporting Indians all the time. And Modi is doing great work.”
He added, “I was caught in a bomb blast in Bombay in the 90s. I escaped, but I know from personal experience how a bomb or a terrorist activity could affect people. We are here and we will always be together.”
Calls for UK action and Pakistani condemnation
Organisers demanded that the UK Government summon Pakistan’s High Commissioner for an official explanation. They urged Pakistan to publicly condemn the attack and cease support for militant groups.
“This is not just insensitivity—it is provocation. The Pakistani authorities have crossed every boundary of diplomacy and humanity. If Pakistan cannot condemn terror, they are complicit in it,” one organiser said.
India’s diplomatic fallout after Pahalgam attack
In the aftermath of the April 22 attack, India moved quickly to signal its displeasure through a range of diplomatic and policy responses. It shut down the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari and suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, giving them 40 hours to exit the country. The number of diplomatic staff in both countries’ missions was also reduced.
Perhaps most significantly, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty — a historic water-sharing agreement signed in 1960 with the help of the World Bank — underscoring the severity of its response to the attack.
The incident in London, featuring an on-record Pakistani military official making an explicit threat, adds a new layer of tension to already strained Indo-Pak relations. For British Indians and others gathered in London, the threat felt real, raw, and personal.
What was meant to be a solemn protest for the victims of terror instead became a moment that exposed deeper diplomatic fractures — right in the heart of London.
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