India Must Take Over PoK: UK MP Lord Meghnad Desai on Pahalgam Terror Attack

British parliamentarian and Indian-origin economist Lord Meghnad Desai has made a powerful appeal to the Indian government: reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as the only viable solution to the decades-old Kashmir dispute. His statement comes in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 innocent civilians dead.

The brutal attack, which took place on April 22 in Baisaran meadows, a popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, has sparked widespread outrage. Armed terrorists reportedly opened fire on unarmed tourists in what authorities are calling a Pakistan-sponsored terror operation.

Desai’s Stern Message to India: “Take Over PoK”

Speaking to ANI during his visit to New Delhi, Lord Desai, a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament, said:

“I think the only way to solve the Kashmir problem now is for India to go and take PoK over. We have the accession letter of the king. So it belongs to us.”

Labeling the Pahalgam attack as “an incredibly cruel” and “shocking” act of terror, Desai called it the final limit in the Kashmir dispute. He urged the Indian government to respond "absolutely forcefully", both to punish the perpetrators and prevent any such future assaults.

Backing PM Modi’s Stance on Kashmir

Lord Desai, who was born in Vadodara, Gujarat, and later became a naturalized British citizen, has long maintained close ties with India. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his firm reaction and expressed confidence in his leadership to resolve the Kashmir issue decisively.

“PM Modi has said quite rightly that it is an incredibly cruel attack. India has to react absolutely forcefully... I’m hoping that the Prime Minister intends to solve the problem once and for all,” Desai told PTI.

A History of Outspoken Advocacy

A respected economist and former Labour MP, Desai left the Labour Party in 2020 after alleging racism within the party ranks. Known for his candid views and support for tough counter-terrorism policies, Desai has often urged Indian authorities to abandon diplomatic restraint in favor of strategic assertiveness on territorial matters.

Desai also highlighted India's legal right over the entire Jammu and Kashmir region under the Instrument of Accession, signed by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1947, reinforcing his position that PoK rightfully belongs to India.

National and Global Reactions Mount

The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in the recent past, has drawn sharp responses from across the political spectrum and global Indian diaspora. It has reignited debates about India’s approach to cross-border terrorism and the unresolved PoK dispute.

Pakistan, on its part, has denied involvement, but Indian intelligence agencies maintain that the attackers were trained and sent from across the border, continuing a longstanding pattern of proxy warfare.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has renewed calls for the UN to intervene in the Kashmir dispute — a demand strongly rejected by Indian officials, who maintain that the region is an internal matter.

The Way Forward?

As public outrage intensifies and voices like Desai’s gain traction, the Indian government faces increasing pressure to rethink its strategic calculus on PoK. While military intervention remains a complex and high-stakes decision, public sentiment and diaspora advocacy are tilting the conversation toward more assertive postures.

Whether India moves to reclaim PoK remains uncertain, but what is clear is that the tragic events in Pahalgam have marked a turning point in the nation's security and diplomatic discourse.