J Sai Deepak Vs Pakistan High Commission: What really happened at Oxford Union debate

Pakistan High Commission alleged that Indian lawyer J. Sai Deepak backed out of the Oxford Union debate at the last moment.

Transcript

00:00Pakistan accused Indian lawyer J.S.I. Deepak of backing out of a debate at the last moment.

00:04But is that the full picture? Let's take a closer look.

00:07A debate titled India's policy towards Pakistan is a popular strategy sold as a security policy

00:11was scheduled at the Oxford Union in the UK on November 27.

00:15According to the Pakistan High Commission, their speakers included former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar,

00:19Pakistan's envoy to the UK, Mohamed Faisal, and ex-Army General Subeir Mehmood Hayat.

00:24Said Deepak wrote he was told by the organizers that India's side was set to feature former Army Chief M.M. Nirwane

00:28and economist Dr. Subramanyam Swamy.

00:31However, later, the Pakistan High Commission posted that Indian participants had backed out

00:35without any substantive explanation.

00:37Pakistan media even called it a narrative victory.

00:39Said Deepak responded with his version of events on X.

00:42He said he was initially told that former Army Chief Nirwane and Dr. Swamy would attend.

00:46But two days before the event, he was informed they would not be present.

00:49Deepak wrote that then he helped Oxford Union find replacement speakers from India.

00:53He arrived in London on the morning of the debate.

00:55But three hours before the event, Deepak said he received a call from the Union

00:58stating that the Pakistani delegation hadn't even reached London

01:01and the Indian side therefore saw no point in travelling to Oxford.

01:05Deepak later alleged that he found out that the delegation was in a hotel in Oxford

01:08yet did not attend the debate.

01:10Sai Deepak also claimed possible bias as the Oxford Union President Musa Harrajan

01:15is the son of a Pakistani minister.