Rishi Sunak supports OP Sindoor strikes, says India is justified, no impunity for terrorists

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has strongly backed India's strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

“No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from land controlled by another country. India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists,” Sunak posted on X.

His remark diverged from the more cautious official line of the current Labour government. Sunak’s comments came even as Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for urgent de-escalation between India and Pakistan. Speaking in Parliament during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), Starmer said, “We are engaging urgently with both countries, as well as other international partners, encouraging



dialogue, de-escalation and the protection of civilians.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed this, saying the UK is “seriously concerned” by the rising tensions and is in touch with counterparts in both countries. “If this escalates further, nobody wins,” Lammy warned, urging both nations to show restraint and engage in direct dialogue.

India has described the operation as a “measured, proportionate, and non-escalatory” response aimed at dismantling terror launchpads of groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the strikes were necessary in the absence of any “demonstrable step” by Pakistan to act against the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack.

The April 22 attack in a scenic meadow in J&K, one of the deadliest attacks against civilians, had claimed 26 lives.