SIR KEIR STARMER came under increased fire today for changing the Labour Party’s policy on Kashmir after meeting lobbyists from Labour Friends of India (LFI) last week.

Labour under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn passed an emergency motion at conference last year stating that Kashmir “is a disputed territory and the people of Kashmir should be given the right of self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions.”

But the new Labour leader and former human-rights lawyer appeared to have changed the party’s position on the hoof after meeting LFI’s executive team.

Muslim-majority Kashmir has been the subject of dispute with neighbouring Pakistan since partition. India’s Hindu-chauvinist government has stationed more than half a million troops and militia there, and thousands of people, mainly civilians, have been killed.

He said that he is committed to “rebuilding trust” with the Indian community in Britain, and that issues involving Kashmir should not “divide communities here.”

“Any constitutional issues in India are a matter for the Indian parliament, and Kashmir is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve peacefully,” he added.

Labour MPs Debbie Abrahams and Sarah Owen, chairwoman and vice-chairwoman of the all-party parliamentary group on Kashmir, have announced that they will talk to Mr Starmer via video conference this week to discuss his controversial move.

An open letter was widely circulated on social media at the weekend signed by Labour members of many religious and non-religious backgrounds, who said Mr Starmer’s statement had caused them “grave concern.”

It read: “Many of us supported your leadership campaign in light of your promise to continue the very successful policy direction implemented under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, which included a firm commitment to an ethical foreign policy.”

The Indian Workers’ Association GB told the Star that it is “seriously concerned with the manner and speed in which Mr Starmer is changing policy on the hoof” due to lobbyists’ pressure.

Though it said it stuck by its view that the Labour conference resolution on Kashmir was “poorly worded,” it said changing it under lobbyists’ pressure made things worse.

It expressed concern for people of Kashmir continuing to live under “inhuman restrictions” since a severe military lockdown was imposed last August.

“We in Britain have only experienced a very soft example of what a lockdown feels like in dealing with Covid 19. Now imagine having communication and social media blocked and cut off and isolated from all your family and friends,” it said.