A peaceful protest by the Indian diaspora outside the Pakistan High Commission in London quickly escalated on Friday. The situation became tense after Colonel Taimur Rahat, a senior officer from the Pakistan Army, made a threatening throat-slit gesture toward the demonstrators.

Threatening Gesture Caught on Video

The gesture was captured on video, which soon went viral. In the video, Colonel Rahat is seen making the gesture while staring at the protesters. They had gathered to condemn the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which tragically claimed the lives of 26 civilians.

What a pain this guy must have gone through while growing up. Inhuman idiots. https://t.co/uVE4QOELpY

— Sandeep Mall (@SandeepMall) April 26, 2025

Large Gathering of Protesters

Over 500 people from the Indian and Jewish communities attended the protest. They waved Indian flags and held placards condemning Pakistan’s support for terror organizations. The crowd chanted slogans demanding justice and accountability. Additionally, they urged the UK government to take diplomatic action against Pakistan.

Protesters React to the Gesture

One of the protest organizers described the gesture as “provocation.” They further stated, "If Pakistan cannot condemn terror, they are complicit in it."

Music from Pakistan High Commission Sparks Anger

Moreover, the Pakistan High Commission played loud celebratory music during the protest. This action was condemned by the organizers, who called it "a tone-deaf and disgraceful act." They argued that it added insult to injury during such a sensitive time.

Solidarity Between Indian and Jewish Communities

An Indo-Jewish protester expressed solidarity, saying, “We support India because we face the same enemy: Islamist radicalization. What happened in Pahalgam reminded us of the Hamas attack on Israel.”

India’s Diplomatic Response

In response to the Pahalgam attack, India took several diplomatic measures. First, it suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. Second, it closed the Attari land border. Lastly, India ordered Pakistani nationals to leave the country by May 1. Furthermore, both India and Pakistan agreed to reduce the number of diplomatic staff at their High Commissions.

Overall, this incident reflects the growing tensions between India and Pakistan.