Yousaf and Varadkar urge restraint as violence over Kashmir flares

Former first minister Humza Yousaf and former Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have written to the leaders of India and Pakistan, urging restraint and de-escalation following the exchange of fire over Kashmir.

Writing as public servants and “men with roots in the subcontinent”, they called on Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif to “resist the pull of conflict”.

The former first minister is of Pakistani heritage while Mr Varadkar’s father is from Mumbai.

Their joint letter comes after the most serious escalation of violence between the two south Asian nations in years.

In retaliation for the April 22 terror attacks in Pahalgam, India carried out airstrikes in Pakistani-administered Kashmir – as well as Pakistan itself – saying it was targeting “terrorist infrastructure”.

At least 26 people, including a child, are reported to have died in the missile strikes.

Pakistan has responded with shelling, which has reportedly killed civilians, and claims to have shot down Indian fighter jets.

The joint letter from Mr Yousaf and Mr Varadkar also urged diaspora communities around the world to “resist division and reject hate”.

The letter said: “We write this letter not only as former political leaders from Scotland and Ireland, but as sons of South Asia: one of us of Pakistani heritage, the other of Indian heritage.

“We love both these countries, their histories, cultures, and peoples helped to shape who we are, and inspired our commitment to public life.

“It is precisely because of that affection for both countries that we urge both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to exercise restraint, to de-escalate tensions, and resist the pull of confrontation.”

The letter continued: “The path of conflict may rouse national pride in the moment – but it diminishes all of us in the long run, with civilians always paying the highest price…

“We know from our own experience in the UK and Ireland that reconciliation between former adversaries is never easy, but the prize of peace is always worth it.

“It requires cool heads, moral courage, and leaders who see beyond the immediate pressures of politics to the longer arc of history.”

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for the region, warning against all travel within 10 kilometres (6.3 miles) of the India-Pakistan border and 16 kilometres (10 miles) of the line of control, the de facto border that divides disputed Kashmir.