The article explores the risk of violence between Indian and Pakistani diaspora communities in the UK escalating due to heightened tensions between the two countries. It references past incidents, such as the 2022 Leicester riots, illustrating the potential for conflict fueled by social media and existing sectarian divides.
The recent trade deal between the UK and India is mentioned, suggesting that increased Indian immigration to the UK might exacerbate existing challenges related to community relations and security. The deal, primarily aimed at addressing India's unemployment issues, is predicted to further increase the Indian population in the UK.
The article emphasizes the significant strain this places on the UK's already overstretched security apparatus. It highlights the considerable resources dedicated to maintaining peace among diverse diaspora populations and the challenges of managing inter-community conflicts. The author suggests that the current situation might prove unsustainable, given the potential for further escalation.
Overall, the article warns of a potential for increased conflict on the streets of the UK, stemming from geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan and the complexities of managing a large and diverse diaspora population. The author expresses concern that managing this increasingly difficult situation will prove to be an impossible task for UK authorities.
India and Pakistan have clever generals, diplomats and politicians who will be able to call any conflict quits. On Britain’s streets, there are fewer restraints available. We had race riots involving Muslims and Hindus in Britain in recent years. They’re always in the offing, always ready to break out.
They did in summer 2022, when violence flared in Leicester between Britain’s south Asian Hindus and Muslims. It was sparked, at least in part, by a cricket match; but the spark could have been anything. Footage of a scrap after the cricket travelled widely via WhatsApp and social media, and very soon rumours flew around the British Muslim world that people just like them were being hunted down and attacked by “Hindutva” Indian nationalists.
Hindus and Muslims in Leicester each took to the streets to show their face; some fighting broke out. After that, episodes of violence ebbed and flowed; many were beaten up and at least one person was stabbed. Eventually everything simmered back down again – but only after quite an investment in police presence and resources. It will happen again.
Britain signed a trade deal with India yesterday that is primarily designed not to buy Indian goods or to sell things to India but to solve India’s domestic labour problems. Too many young Indians graduate unable to find work. That is where Britain steps in. Already, Britain’s annual population of Indians increases by roughly 300,000 per year. One expects that will go up even more now new Indian arrivals pay no national insurance for their first three years.
A significant amount of Britain’s overstretched security apparatus is already dedicated to maintaining civic peace at any price between our innumerable diaspora populations. Quite a lot of our diplomacy involves begging foreign countries to stop riling up their people living in Britain and telling them to take on long-standing sectarian enemies. It’s already an impossible job. After last night, it might prove a bridge too far.
James Snell is a former senior advisor for special initiatives at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy
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