The Foreign Office (FO) has strongly condemned the increase in racist and Islamophobic comments directed against the Pakistani diaspora in the United Kingdom.
FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan made the remarks on Monday during a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, expressing concern over the recent public discourse surrounding the British Pakistani community.
The statement follows a controversial debate sparked by Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, who targeted the UK’s Pakistani community, referring to them as “Asian grooming gangs”.
Musk also accused the British government of protecting these gangs, calling British Prime Minister Keir Starmer a “rape genocide apologist” and calling for his imprisonment.
The situation was further aggravated when Priyanka Chaturvedi, a leader of the Indian Shiv Sena party led by Uddhav Thackeray, demanded that the term “Pakistani grooming gangs” be used instead of “Asian grooming gangs”. Musk expressed his support for her comments by replying “true” to her tweet.
Khan condemned politicized discourse aimed at linking the actions of a few individuals to the entire 1.7 million-strong British Pakistani diaspora.
He stressed that such rhetoric only fuels racism and Islamophobia, further marginalizing a community that has contributed significantly to the development of the United Kingdom.
Khan also reminded the audience of the long-standing friendship between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, characterized by warmth, trust and cooperation, cultivated over decades. He highlighted the vital role of British Pakistanis in the economy and culture of the United Kingdom.
The FO spokesperson highlighted the historic contribution of British Pakistanis, noting that many Muslim soldiers from what is now Pakistan served in the British Indian Army during both world wars, fighting for democracy.
Khan concluded by emphasizing that demonizing an entire community for the actions of a few individuals is unacceptable and must be condemned. He reiterated that British Pakistanis continue to be a vital part of the social fabric of the United Kingdom, enriching its culture and contributing to its success.