Published: July 7, 2023 9:43 am
Author: RT
The two national security advisors are expected to discuss New Delhi’s concerns over Punjab radicals and support in Britain
India’ National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval is set to meet his UK counterpart Tim Barrow in New Delhi on Friday where they will likely address various bilateral issues, including the activities of pro-Khalistan radicals, the Hindustan Times reported citing sources. India has also expressed concerns about the British government downplaying the Khalistan issue and the safety of Indian diplomats in the UK.
The meeting is taking place following several deaths of leaders linked with the Khalistani separatist movement, including Avtar Singh Khanda, a prominent figure in the movement. He was also known as a close associate of Amritpal Singh, the radical preacher who was arrested in April this year and incarcerated in Dibrugarh prison in Assam. The movement seeks to establish a sovereign state for India’s Sikh population in the Punjab region.
Doval will reportedly also raise the issue of security of Indian diplomats, specifically High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, being targeted by pro-Khalistan extremists, in light of a protest scheduled for July 8 outside the Indian high commission in London. The rally was called after another prominent figure in the Khalistan movement, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was killed in a gang-related shooting incident in Canada on June 19.
Although Doval has been in contact with Barrow regarding the increase in pro-Khalistan extremism in the UK and its implications on bilateral relations, India has also expressed significant concerns about the British core establishment allegedly downplaying the issue, according to the reports anonymous sources.
In one of the incidents earlier this year, radicals led by Khanda pulled down the Indian Tricolour during a protest at the Indian high commission in London, which triggered a strong response from the Indian government, with Delhi Police registering a First Information Report for a crime committed outside the country for the first time. In April, the case was handed over to India’s National Investigation Agency, which has reportedly identified approximately twelve suspects connected to the flag-desecration incident.
