The Indian side took up the threats posed by extremist elements in the UK to officers of the Indian High Commission
In a significant diplomatic development, India's National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval met his British counterpart Sir Tim Barrow in New Delhi on Friday (July 7, 2023). The meeting was part of the India-UK Strategic Dialogue, with Sir Barrow visiting India at the invitation of NSA Doval. The British NSA was accompanied by a delegation of senior UK government officials.

The two NSAs engaged in restricted discussions on regional and global issues of mutual interest, followed by delegation-level talks. Both countries reaffirmed their close strategic partnership and agreed to prioritize enhancing security linkages. This meeting comes after an informal interaction between the two NSAs on March 30, 2023.

The dialogue between the two NSAs covered a broad bilateral, regional, and global agenda, sources said. The current visit allowed them to continue their high-level dialogue, which included a review of the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and exploration of futuristic areas for technology collaboration.

A significant issue raised by the Indian side was the threats posed by extremist elements in the UK to individual officers of the Indian High Commission. According to people aware of the discussions, India urged the UK Government to take strong public action against these elements, such as deportation or legal prosecution. This issue has gained momentum in the backdrop of pro-Khalistan rallies expected to take place in major western cities like London, Toronto, San Francisco, and Melbourne.

Pro-Khalistan groups have issued posters inciting violence against senior Indian diplomats in the UK as well as in the US, Canada, and Australia. UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has strongly condemned any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London, describing them as "completely unacceptable"

During Friday's discussions, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation to address violent extremism and radicalism. They also agreed to work closely on counter-terrorism, counter-terror financing, the use of the internet for terrorism purposes, illicit drug trafficking, and counter-radicalisation. While agreeing to enhance collaboration on counter-terrorism efforts, they are believed to have discussed strategies to improve intelligence sharing and strengthen coordination between the security agencies of both nations.

The two sides also agreed to deepen mutually beneficial collaboration in critical and emerging technologies. During his visit, NSA Tim Barrow is also expected to meet other dignitaries of the Government of India.

The previously held informal meeting between NSA Doval and Sir Barrow on March 30, 2023, along with the ongoing strategic dialogue, highlight the deep-rooted commitment of both nations to collaborate on a wide spectrum of matters, encompassing not only security but also technology, as they strive to effectively confront mutual challenges and capitalize on shared opportunities.