The UK maintains complex, close relationships with both India and Pakistan, offering support and cooperation to each nation in different ways, while urging restraint and dialogue between them on disputes like Kashmir, advocating for bilateral solutions. The UK provides significant aid to India, strengthens economic ties, and cooperates on security, while also having strong security and development links with Pakistan, viewing it as a key partner in regional stability, though sometimes facing accusations from both sides of bias, particularly regarding Kashmir.
Unlike the frosty relationship between Pakistan and the US, British Army sees the Pakistani forces as a necessary bulwark against jihadists in Afghanistan, and it has also pushed India to engage Pakistan on Kashmir, saying it will help marginalize jihadists.
The UK-India relationship is founded on a broad range of mutual interests. We work closely together on issues as diverse as education and research, energy security and climate change, security and defence, international relations.
Pakistan is an important regional and strategic partner to the UK. Our partnership is founded on culture, shared history, diplomacy, development, security, trade, and the economy. The 1.6 million-strong Pakistani diaspora in the UK and 100,000 British and dual nationals in Pakistan bestows deep personal ties.
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Who is Pakistan's best friend?
Pakistan considers China as one of its closest friends and partners and China considers Pakistan as its Iron Brother. The bilateral relationship between the two neighboring countries is characterized by feelings of mutual trust, respect, and goodwill towards each other.
Pakistan's infamous arch-rival is India, stemming from the 1947 Partition of British India, leading to decades of conflict, multiple wars, and intense rivalries, especially centered around the disputed Kashmir region, making their relationship one of the world's most contentious, famously seen in their cricket matches.
Travelers need a visa to visit Pakistan for Business or Tourism. A Pakistan eVisa is the fastest way to obtain a visa. Travelers can apply online. Once approved, travelers receive their eVisa confirmation electronically.
However Britain did forge close military ties with the United States, France, and Germany, through the NATO military alliance. After years of debate (and rebuffs), Britain joined the Common Market in 1973; which became the European Union in 1993.
India and Pakistan have a complex and largely hostile relationship that is rooted in a multitude of historical and political events, most notably the partition of British India in August 1947.
Countries considered India's closest include the United Arab Emirates, Russian Federation, Israel, Afghanistan, France, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the United States.
Yes, the UK still provides support to India, but it's no longer traditional financial aid to the government, which ended in 2015; instead, it focuses on private sector investments, technical assistance, climate initiatives, and support through multilateral organizations, aiming for both development and commercial returns for the UK. This shift from direct aid to investment and expertise sharing has resulted in a new model of development cooperation, with British International Investment (BII) managing significant portfolios in India, particularly in infrastructure and clean energy.
Amid the crackdown on immigration in the US, British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said: "Indians are welcome (in the UK). They are the highest in every category of visa."
Who won the war between India and Pakistan in 2025?
A ceasefire began at 17:00 (IST)/16:30 (PKT). It was first announced by US President Donald Trump on social media, and the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers subsequently confirmed the agreement. Both sides claimed victory after the ceasefire.
In total, from 2012 to 2021, the UK granted 973 limited and 127 unlimited 'open' arms licenses to Pakistan. What is the total value of those exports in GBP? Between 2012 and 2021, the UK granted Pakistan £140 million in arms licenses.
The UK-Pakistan relationship is vital, characterized by shared historical ties, mutual strategic interests, and collaborative efforts on global issues. This relationship is integral to regional stability and addressing global challenges like climate change and terrorism.
Travelers need a visa to visit Pakistan for Business or Tourism. Travelers must obtain a paper or embassy visa from an embassy, consulate or visa center before traveling.
Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh have been added to England's red list to protect the country against new variants of coronavirus (COVID-19), at a critical time for the vaccine programme.
Historically, Pakistan refused to "recognize" Armenia due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, despite the fact that Armenia and Azerbaijan have themselves always recognised each other as sovereign states ever since they both gained independence during the dissolution of the Soviet Union in ...
