Pahalgam Attack: Malaysian Indian People Party Slams PM Anwar Ibrahim’s ‘Indian Administered Kashmir’ Reference

Last Updated:April 26, 2025, 16:54 IST

Ibrahim made the reference while strongly condemning the attack, describing it as a calculated and inhuman assault that has no place in any civilised society

Security personnel during a search operation following a terror attack at Pahalgam, in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. (File image: PTI)

The Malaysian Indian People Party (MIPP), a nationalist ethnic Indian political party in Malaysia, has protested against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s reference to “Indian Administered Kashmir" in his recent statement on the Pahalgam terror attack.

“This terminology is not a mere formality – it carries political weight. By using a phrase aligned with Pakistan’s position, the prime minister’s statement undermines India’s sovereignty and turns a message of solidarity into one of ambiguity and provocation," MIPP said in a letter to online news portal Malaysiakini.

Ibrahim had strongly condemned this week’s attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed over two dozen people, describing it as a calculated and inhuman assault that has no place in any civilised society.

“It would have been far better if the prime minister had not issued the statement at all, instead of stating a contested Pakistani position in a statement supposed to assuage India’s emotions after the attack," MIPP said.

There is a clear double standard in how Malaysia handles diplomatic sensitivities, the party said. “We are hyper-cautious and deferential with China, never daring to refer to Taiwan as ‘independent.’ Yet with India, a major strategic, economic, and cultural partner, this same respect is casually discarded," it added.

The MIPP also pointed out that for Malaysia, India is still a vital economic partner, currently purchasing significant quantities of palm oil and playing a crucial role in the trade and diplomatic landscape. “Why jeopardise such an important relationship? The nation’s interest must always come first," it added.

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