• Source:JND
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A high-profile Oxford Union debate on India’s policy towards Pakistan descended into complete chaos on Thursday night after the Pakistani delegation failed to show up on time, later accusing the Indian side of withdrawing.

The controversy, which quickly spiralled into a diplomatic mud-slinging match, is now being described by Activist Manu Khajuria as “Operation Manhoos ki phati hui Baniyan”, accusing Pakistan of manufacturing a false victory.

Debate Cancelled Minutes Before Start

The debate, titled “This House believes that India’s policy towards Pakistan is a populist strategy sold as security policy,” was scheduled for November 27 under Oxford Union president Moosa Harraj, son of Pakistan’s Defence Production Minister.

The controversy broke into the open when the Pakistan High Commission in London posted a public message claiming that all three Indian speakers had withdrawn “without any explanation,” leaving Pakistan with an 'uncontested win'. 

Senior advocate J Sai Deepak, the principal Indian speaker, immediately disputed Pakistan’s version. He released emails and call logs showing that he had confirmed his attendance long ago and had arranged two additional speakers from the UK after two original Indian invitees backed out due to prior commitments.

India Produces Evidence, Calls Out ‘False Victory’

According to Deepak, he and his replacement team, UK-based activist Manu Khajuria and dharmic scholar Pt Satish K Sharma, were preparing to leave for the Union when he received a call from Harraj, around mid-afternoon. Harraj allegedly told him the Pakistani delegation “had not landed in the UK” and that the event could not go ahead.

Pakistan, meanwhile, insisted its speakers, former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, former Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, and envoy Mohammad Faisal were fully prepared to travel to Oxford. It accused India of backing out due to “lack of confidence” and described the cancellation as a walkover.

This directly contradicts the Union’s communication with Deepak, raising questions about what the Oxford Union actually knew and when. “If they were in Oxford, why run away? We were ready,” Deepak wrote.

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Debate Never Happened, But Diplomatic Clash Escalates

The Union’s management has also drawn criticism from Indian participants. Several speakers said they were contacted extremely late, including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who publicly chastised the Union for its unprofessional timing. She confirmed she had declined to participate because the Union had reached out just days before the event. The lack of clear communication, shifting speaker lists, and conflicting accounts from organisers have placed the Union under an uncomfortable spotlight.

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What was meant to be a formal, structured conversation at one of the world’s most renowned debating halls has now spiralled into an international dispute. Both governments continue to defend their versions, while the Union has maintained silence on the episode’s contradictory timelines.

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