The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday condemned what it called “increasingly racist and Islamophobic” comments directed at Pakistanis in the UK, emphasizing the deep relations between the two countries as well as the contributions of British Pakistanis.
The statement came after tech billionaire Elon Musk sparked a controversial debate over the term “Asian grooming gangs,” with comments raising concerns of perpetuating harmful anti-Pakistani stereotypes.
Musk attacked the UK government for recruiting gangs, using her X platform to accuse a key Labor leader of being a “rape genocide apologist” and calling for her and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be jailed.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, leader of India’s Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, wrote in Musk responded with a terse “truth,” indicating his support for her comments.
The term “grooming gangs” arises from the widespread abuse of girls in several English towns and cities, which emerged more than a decade ago. A series of court cases eventually led to the conviction of dozens of men, mostly of South Asian Muslim origin. The victims were vulnerable girls, mostly white.
The scandals have been exploited by far-right figures, notably Tommy Robinson, a prominent extremist agitator.
FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan issued a statement on Monday in response to the growing anti-Pakistan discourse seen in the UK.
“As such, we note with deep concern the increasingly racist and Islamophobic political and media commentary in the UK which aims to conflate the reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire British Pakistani diaspora of 1.7 million.”
He added that the friendship between Pakistan and the United Kingdom was characterized by warmth, cordiality, strong cooperation and trust. “This relationship, nurtured over decades, remains an important priority of Pakistan’s foreign policy,” Khan said.
He highlighted that the “deep and multifaceted relations” between the two countries cover a wide range of fields, including trade, investment and counter-terrorism.
“The presence of 1.7 million members of the British-Pakistani diaspora provides the strongest link between the two friendly countries,” Khan added.
He argued that British citizens of Pakistani origin have contributed to the growth and development of the United Kingdom, and that large numbers of predominantly Muslim soldiers served in the British Indian Army in both world wars.
“British Pakistanis today form the backbone of the UK’s healthcare, retail and services sectors,” Khan continued. “Many British Pakistanis hold senior public office and thousands serve their communities as Members of Parliament, Mayors, Councilors and members of local police and municipal services.”
Khan highlighted the contributions of British Pakistanis in sports and the arts, noting: “Their cuisine and music enrich British culture.”
“We must condemn demonizing such a large and diverse community based on the actions of a few individuals,” Khan said.
