The Foreign Office (FO) strongly condemned the rising racism and Islamophobia directed at Pakistanis in the UK, stressing the close and enduring relationship between the two nations, as well as the positive contributions of the British Pakistani community.
The statement came after Elon Musk became embroiled in a controversial debate regarding the term “Asian grooming gangs.” His comments, which appeared to reinforce negative stereotypes about Pakistanis, sparked widespread concern. Musk criticized the UK government over grooming gangs, using his platform to accuse a Labour leader of being a “rape genocide apologist” and calling for her and Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be jailed. Priyanka Chaturvedi, an Indian political leader, also posted on X, claiming the gangs were “PAKISTANI grooming gangs,” to which Musk agreed.
The term “grooming gangs” refers to the abuse of vulnerable girls in several UK towns, a problem that came to light over a decade ago. While the perpetrators were predominantly of South Asian Muslim descent, the focus on this issue has been heavily exploited by far-right figures, especially Tommy Robinson.
In response to the growing hostility, FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan emphasized that the negative commentary was unfairly linking the actions of a few individuals to the entire 1.7 million-strong British Pakistani diaspora. He reiterated that Pakistan and the UK share a deep and multifaceted relationship, built on decades of cooperation in areas like trade, investment, and counter-terrorism.
Khan highlighted the significant contributions of British Pakistanis to the UK, particularly in healthcare, retail, and public service. Many British Pakistanis have served in high-level positions, such as MPs, mayors, and in the police, and have also enriched British culture through their contributions to sports, arts, cuisine, and music.
He concluded by condemning the demonization of an entire community based on the actions of a few individuals, urging for greater recognition of the positive role British Pakistanis play in society.
