Tag: Hamish Falconer

The speech made by Hamish Falconer, the Minister for the Middle East, at Wilton Park on 13 October 2025.

Excellencies, colleagues, friends,

Welcome to Wilton Park, and thanks to those who’ve travelled so far to be here.

It’s a privilege for the UK to host this gathering – at such a pivotal moment – alongside our friends from the Palestinian Authority and Egypt.

This peace deal brings hope to the world, after two years of conflict and suffering.

I want to pay my respects to every innocent person who has faced fear, hardship and loss.

Now, finally, we can begin to look forward to a brighter future – for Palestinians, for Israelis, for the Palestinian State and for the Two-State Solution.

We commend the key negotiators from the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye for finding a way through and for starting to build the foundations of peace.

The UK is committed to playing a leading role in accelerating Gaza’s reconstruction, working with you, our international partners.

Together, we are backing a Palestinian-led recovery and reconstruction.

We know the scale of the task. We know how urgent it is, and how complex it will be. The government has said it will take years and cost billions.

We must be ready to act – to clear rubble, rebuild homes and set up infrastructure, restoring access to education and healthcare.

And we must also lay the groundwork for long-term economic development.

Gaza, and Palestine more broadly, has real economic potential. Human capital, resilience, a critical location and a global diaspora, including here in the UK. That potential must be unlocked.

This conference is about how we do that, together. How we support the Arab Reconstruction Plan. And how we unlock the vast resources needed, not just through traditional donor finance, but by thinking creatively to bring in private capital.

The UK is well placed to help. We bring deep expertise in private investment and strong links to the City of London. But this is a shared effort. You bring the technical expertise, the regional insight and the relationships that will make this happen.

This is ultimately about meeting the needs and ambitions of Gazans.

It’s also about reconnecting Gaza and the West Bank, economically, politically, socially. And supporting the viability of a Palestinian state as part of a Two-State Solution.

I want to thank all our Palestinian participants for joining us. We know what you and your communities have endured. I know the experience and insight you bring will play a crucial role in achieving our goals.

I also want to thank our partners from Europe, the Arab region, investment funds and development institutions. Your engagement will shape what’s possible.

I very much look forward to our discussions today and the outcomes of this conference.

Together, let’s seize the opportunity to turn this moment of hope into lasting peace and progress.

The statement made by Hamish Falconer, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, in the House of Commons on 29 April 2025.

The horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April was devastating. [Interruption.]

Mr Speaker

Order. Members must sit down, because the Minister is on his feet replying.

Mr Falconer

Our thoughts are with those affected, their loved ones and, of course, the people of India. This attack left 26 people dead, most of whom, we understand, were tourists travelling to the region. Following the attack, India has announced a number of diplomatic measures against Pakistan, and Pakistan has reciprocated. The official UK travel advice for Indian-administered Kashmir continues to advise against all travel to Jammu and Kashmir, except for travel by air to the city of Jammu, travel within the city, and travel within the union territory of Ladakh.

This is a very sensitive situation, with real risks to regional and wider stability. Understandably, there has been huge interest within UK communities. Kashmir has been a flashpoint for conflict between India and Pakistan many times over previous decades. The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Modi on 25 April to express his condolences on behalf of the British people. The UK condemns all forms of terrorism and the extremism that sustains it, wherever it occurs. The Foreign Secretary spoke to India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on 27 April to pass on the UK’s condolences and to express the UK Government’s support to the Indian people at this difficult time. The Foreign Secretary has also spoken over the weekend to Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar.

Heightened tensions between India and Pakistan inevitably raise concerns about escalation. Effective channels of engagement to safeguard stability in the region are essential. The UK supported the UN Security Council press statement on 25 April, which condemned the attack and reaffirmed that acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable. The long-standing position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution. We will continue to monitor the situation closely through our high commissioners in New Delhi and Islamabad.

Gurinder Singh Josan

I thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing this question, and I thank the Minister for his statement. I have three further points.

First, this is a terrorist attack of the utmost barbarity, and it deserves to be condemned by all. My thoughts are with the families of those killed. The killing took place in a popular tourist location, and most victims were tourists. Among the victims was a man married only the week before, who was honeymooning with his wife. The manner of the selection of the victims was particularly horrific, with the killers actively seeking out non-Muslims before killing them in cold blood. The Minister will be aware that the Kashmir region has been the scene of previous terrorist attacks that have claimed many innocent lives, including in Chittisinghpura, where 35 Sikhs were killed in 2000. What support can the UK provide to ensure that the terrorists are found and brought to justice, and to ensure that their networks of support are dismantled?

Secondly, there has been a significant escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, including the measures that the Minister has outlined. India and Pakistan have engaged in large-scale military hostilities in the past in the region, and there is a real risk that the nations could revert to a military conflict again. What can the UK do to encourage a de-escalation of tensions, while ensuring the eradication of the terrorist organisations and their support networks wherever they exist?

Finally, the Minister will be aware that there have been protests in the UK outside India and Pakistan’s high commissions. Those protests have been characterised by provocative language and gestures, including what appears to be a throat-slitting motion by an alleged Pakistan official. Windows have been smashed at Pakistan’s high commission in London, and an individual has been arrested and charged. Does the Minister recognise the importance of proactive work with communities across the UK to ensure that we do not see a downturn in community relations here?

Mr Falconer

I thank my hon. Friend for his engagement on these questions. I am sure that the whole House shares his horror at the details of this incident—the targeting of the victims and the way in which it was carried out.

First, I will address the scenes on UK streets. We are aware of reports of the video that my hon. Friend refers to; the Metropolitan police are investigating, so I will not provide any further commentary on that particular incident, but it is obviously concerning. We take seriously our responsibility for the security of all embassies and high commissions under the Vienna convention, so both the Pakistani and Indian high commissions will receive all the support of the UK state to ensure that they stay safe. As my hon. Friend has said, and as I know many in this House feel, these issues have long been discussed with passion on British streets. We call on all sides, all community leaders and all involved to call for calm at a time of tension in the region.