- India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will meet his UK counterpart Tim Barrow.
- The meeting comes after the death of Avtar Singh Khanda – UK-based chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and alleged handler of separatist Amritpal Singh.
- Both leaders will meet in New Delhi and discuss a host of several other bilateral issues including the threat issued by Khalistanis.
- Doval has been in constant contact with Barrow over the rise of Khalistan extremism in the UK and has also highlighted its impact on bilateral ties.
India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will meet his UK counterpart Tim Barrow on Friday and raise the issue of the increase in activities by Khalistani terrorists. Both leaders will meet in New Delhi and discuss a host of several other bilateral issues. Friday’s meeting between Doval and Barrow will be the second this year. They had an informal meeting on March 30.
The high-profile meeting on Friday comes after the death of Avtar Singh Khanda – UK-based chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and alleged handler of separatist Amritpal Singh – who died on June 15 under mysterious circumstances in a hospital in Birmingham.
Also, the meeting between both leaders will take place after March 19 attacks and protests at Indian High Commission in London.
In March, a pro-Khalistan protestor climbed on the balcony of the Indian High Commission in London and pulled down the Indian national flag. India registered a strong protest over the matter and urged the UK authorities to take appropriate action against those involved.
During his meeting with Barrow, Doval will raise the issue of Indian diplomats, including high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and a consul general being targeted by Khalistan extremists in posters announcing a protest rally to the Indian high commission in London on July 8.
Doval has been in constant contact with Barrow over the rise of Khalistan extremism in the UK and has also highlighted its impact on bilateral ties. “India has serious concerns over the British core establishment ostensibly soft-pedaling the Khalistani issue,” a report by leading media quoted people aware of Doval-Barrow’s meeting as saying.
After the March 19 attack, the Delhi Police registered a FIR over a crime committed in the UK and later, the case was later handed over to NIA.
Khanda, Gursharan Singh, and Jasvir Singh were named by the Delhi Police special cell as the main perpetrators of attacks and protests in the Indian consulate in the London incident. The NIA too identified about a dozen suspects behind the flag desecration in the UK, the report quoted senior officials as saying.
(With inputs from agencies)
