The double standards or the double-sidedness of Britain took off guard many in New Delhi creating a storm in Indian Twitter space as well. British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott decided to visit Mirpur (POK) right when Rajnath Singh concluded a high-profile visit to London.
Britain is looked at with the eyes of suspicion, especially by the Commonwealth group countries. The erstwhile colonizer is suspected of playing double-sided and igniting animosity between countries. Indian Internet users have their eyes raised after the British High Commissioner to Pakistan reached Mirpur which is part of the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).
Jane Marriott was made the British High Commissioner to Pakistan in June last year. She recently made a surprise visit to Mirpur in POK just when Rajnath Singh completed his meeting with UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps in London. Rajnath Singh was welcomed by his British counterpart as both countries discussed security issues. The Indian defense minister also met Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott CMG OBE had a productive visit to Mirpur, the heart of the UK and Pakistan’s people-to-people and diaspora connections.
She met with key stakeholders, community and business leaders, to further our cooperation. … pic.twitter.com/dGhtVH0xhh
In a time when India and the UK are bolstering their ties not only in the defense sector but also on the trade front, the British High Commissioner’s visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has sent mixed signals to New Delhi. The majority of the Indians have still not forgotten about the India-Pakistan partition which was eagerly facilitated by the then British Raj and the scars still exist from the event.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott wouldn't have left for Mirpur without the staff at 10 Downing Street knowing about it. Any foreign political personality visiting the disputed land is keenly noticed by New Delhi. It is to be seen how the South Asian giant reacts to Britain’s double-sided lousy approach. An American delegation surprised New Delhi by visiting Muzaffarabad last year and referred to POK as AJK (Azad Jammu and Kashmir).
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had then said, “We have objections regarding the visit and the meetings in PoK by the US envoy and we have conveyed the same.” New Delhi is expected to react similarly after the POK visit by Jane Marriott.
Sharp reactions from Indians
If Jane Marriott ever sets foot in India, arrest her at the airport for visa violation and make her go through the judicial process. Same for every foreign official who visits POK without Indian visa https://t.co/jD5ht9IErZ
— yajnadevam (@yajnadevam)British High Commissioner to Islamabad deliberately visited Mirpur, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) while India’s Defence Minister was in UK to discuss crucial matters including defence, economic cooperation and Free Trade Agreement.
So much for respecting the… pic.twitter.com/y83Ht2Xg7j
You are standing on Indian soil . It is shameful that British government sending its representatives on Indian soil occupied by Pakistan army
— dr skinwala 🇮🇳 (@drpawanbajaj)Hey POK is an integral part of India understand it
— अजीब 🇮🇳 बिश्नोई (@Bishnoi_Ajeeb)