A senior Pakistan Army officer has initiated a major controversy after making a threatening throat-slitting gesture during a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in London. The incident, which was captured on video and has since gone viral, has drawn sharp condemnation from Indian-origin communities and security experts.
The officer, identified as Colonel Taimur Rahat, Pakistan Army and Air Advisor at the High Commission, was seen making the gesture towards demonstrators who had gathered to condemn the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s Pahalgam.&nbsp;
The attack claimed the lives of 26 tourists, including 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen.
More than 500 members of the Indian and Jewish communities in the UK participated in the protest, waving Indian flags and holding placards denouncing Pakistan&rsquo;s alleged support for terrorism.&nbsp;
Protesters chanted slogans demanding justice and urging the UK government to take diplomatic action. Organizers of the demonstration described Rahat&rsquo;s actions as deeply provocative.
"This is not just insensitivity&mdash;it is provocation," one of the protest organizers stated. "If Pakistan cannot condemn terror, they are complicit in it."
The controversy escalated further when former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid called for immediate action against those involved.
&ldquo;All these Pakistanis, whether in the embassy or outside, are madrasa products and children of Zia-ul-Haq. They know nothing except throat-slitting,&rdquo; Vaid said, urging London authorities to take strict action.&nbsp;
&ldquo;They should be declared persona non grata and expelled.&rdquo;
The Pakistan High Commission also drew criticism for playing loud celebratory music during the demonstration. Protesters denounced the act as "tone-deaf and disgraceful" and accused the mission of mocking the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
An Indo-Jewish protester told a news agency, &ldquo;We support India because we face the same enemy: Islamist radicalisation. What happened in Pahalgam reminded us of the Hamas attack on Israel.&rdquo;
The protestors issued three key demands: summoning Pakistan&rsquo;s High Commissioner by the UK government to seek an explanation, a public condemnation of the killings by Pakistan along with a commitment to stop sponsoring terrorism, and diplomatic pressure to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has responded to the Pahalgam attack with a series of diplomatic measures.&nbsp;
The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty has been suspended, the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari has been closed, and the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals has been put on hold. Pakistani nationals have been given until May 1 to leave India, and both countries have agreed to reduce their respective High Commission staff.
Pakistani leaders have responded with warnings. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar cautioned, &ldquo;If India tries any adventure, it will face a worse fate than in the past.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif added, &ldquo;If our citizens are attacked, then even Indian citizens will not be safe. If even one of our citizens is killed by Indian perpetrators, then we will make them pay through their noses.&rdquo;
Vaid dismissed Pakistan&rsquo;s threats and accusations, criticising its attempts to internationalize the Kashmir issue.&nbsp;
&ldquo;ISI&rsquo;s work is only to spread baseless propaganda. However, our security agencies are fully alert and will destroy their nefarious intentions before they succeed,&rdquo; he said.
On Pakistan&rsquo;s reaction to India&rsquo;s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Vaid stated, &ldquo;Do whatever you want, we are prepared for everything.&rdquo;&nbsp;
He further commented on the potential impact of India&rsquo;s water-sharing decision, warning that Pakistan&rsquo;s Punjab and Sindh provinces could face severe drought. &ldquo;They will suffer not only in agriculture but will also struggle to find drinking water. Pakistan will be desperate for irrigation.&rdquo;
Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high, with both nations taking strong diplomatic and security measures in response to the Pahalgam attack and subsequent developments.&nbsp;
The UK government has yet to issue an official response to the incident outside the High Commission.
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(Left) Pak Officer and Ex-J&K DGP SP Vaid (Right)

A viral video of Pak officer’s threat during London protest draws fierce criticism

Ex-J&K DGP Slams Pak Officer’s Threatening Gesture

A viral video of Pak officer’s threat during London protest draws fierce criticism

April 26, 2025 | 17:08 IST