A scheduled debate at the prestigious Oxford Union descended into a farce when the Pakistani delegation failed to appear, only to later claim victory in the non-existent contest.
The Oxford Union, known for hosting some of the world’s most distinguished debates, was set to witness a debate between Indian and Pakistani representatives on the motion, “This House Believes That India’s Policy Towards Pakistan Is a Populist Strategy Sold as Security Policy”. However, the Indian delegation and organisers were left bewildered when the Pakistani delegation refused to leave their hotel.
The no-show incident
The Indian delegation, which comprised J. Sai Deepak, a Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Satish Sharma, a Dharmic Scholar and UK-based Jammu & Kashmir Activist and Author Manu Khajuria, were prepared to engage in the scheduled debate even after last-minute changes, but their counterparts from Pakistan chose to drop out hours before the debate, according to the organisers at Oxford Union.
In a curious turn of events, the Pakistani High Commission in the UK and sections of the Pakistani media claimed to have secured a victory in the debate, hours before the debate was set to take place, claiming that the Indian contingent had failed to show up. In fact, unaware of these preemptive posts on X, the designated speakers from the Indian side were all set to leave for Oxford from London when the Oxford Union officers called them to inform them that the Pakistani contingent had backed out. A lie as we expose below;
Timeline of Oxford Union debate events
The Oxford Union debate, scheduled for 8:30 PM UK time on November 27, 2025, collapsed due to the Pakistani team’s failure to participate, amid premature victory claims and purposeful miscommunications.
13:34 PM: Pakistani media outlets claim victory, alleging the Indian contingent did not show up, and circulate a fabricated letter with incorrect names for Indian speakers J. Sai Deepak, Manu Khajuria, and Pt. Satish K. Sharma.
14:44 PM: Pakistan High Commission in London posts on X, a victory declaration for their side, again citing wrong names for the final Indian team and portraying India as “withdrawing” due to lack of confidence.
15:13 PM: Oxford Union officer contacts J. Sai Deepak, informing him that the Pakistani team has backed out and suggesting a debate with students instead; Deepak refuses, insisting on the original plan with a proper opponent.
16:55 PM: Oxford Union Pakistani President Moosa Harraj calls Sai Deepak to apologise, confirming the Pakistani delegation (including figures like Hina Rabbani Khar) had not even arrived in London, despite later reports of their presence at a local hotel.
The absence of the Pakistani side effectively rendered the debate impossible to proceed as planned. The Indian team, already in London, chose not to proceed without opposition, exposing discrepancies in Pakistani narratives.
Claims of victory despite refusing to show
The false claims of victory by the Pakistani side, including its High Commission in the UK, have been met with widespread incredulity and criticism from those familiar with the situation.
The assertion of victory without participation has raised questions about the integrity of Pakistan and its motivations behind such statements, and the impact on Pakistan’s credibility in international academic and diplomatic circles.
President and treasurer of Oxford Union are of Pakistani origin
It is interesting to note that the President of the Oxford Union is Moosa Harraj. Who is, the son of Muhammad Raza Hayat Hiraj, the Minister of Defence Production for Pakistan, and the treasurer of the Oxford Union, is Raza Nazar, also of Pakistani origin.
Moosa Harraj claimed that he received a call at 10 am, Wednesday, 27th November, that the Pakistani team wouldn’t be coming. Obviously, he knew earlier. Turns out that the Pakistani team did land and were put up at a Hotel in Oxford, where they were hiding on the day of the debate.
The timestamps of the posts on X by the Pakistani High Commission prove the collaboration between the Oxford Union under Moosa Hayat Hiraj and the Pakistani High Commission.
Read the thread by J. Sai Deepak for the full account of events and evidence of the fiasco:
Oxford Union’s response
The Oxford Union has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the incident. The institution typically maintains detailed records of its debates and their outcomes, making any false claims of participation or victory easily verifiable.
Implications for diplomatic discourse
This incident highlights broader challenges in maintaining constructive dialogue between nations with complex bilateral relationships. Academic institutions like the Oxford Union are meant to serve as neutral grounds where competing perspectives can be examined through reasoned argument rather than rhetoric.
The failure to engage in such forums, coupled with spurious claims of success, undermines the very foundations of diplomatic and intellectual exchange that such platforms are designed to foster.
Reactions
The incident has generated significant discussion on social media and among academic circles, with many expressing concern about the precedent such behaviour sets for future international debates and dialogues.
