On a sunny Friday, India's firmness echoed in the corridors of power, asserting an unambiguous stand against extremist elements operating in the United Kingdom. The country's leadership resolutely called on the UK government to take decisive public action, including deportation or legal prosecution, against Khalistani radicals.

These radicals recently issued threats to officials from the Indian High Commission in London, triggered by the demise of one of their chief leaders, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was assassinated in Canada.

As per the news platform IndiaNarrative.com, Khalistani radicals in the UK publicized a poster flaunting images of top Indian diplomats. This included High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and the Consul General of India in Birmingham, Shashank Vikram, painting them as targets to avenge the death of Nijjar, the leader of the Khalistani terror outfit. The incident in question took place in distant Vancouver on June 19.

The bold tone of India was embodied by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday. Meeting his British counterpart, Tim Barrow, in the bustling capital of New Delhi, Doval conveyed India's strong stance against violent extremism. This session, held amidst the ornate architecture of the city, was significant in outlining India's position against radical elements.

Both nations expressed a mutual commitment to bolster cooperation in tackling violent extremism and radicalism. The Indian side stressed the principle that there can be "no justification" for these radical acts within a democracy. Barrow, who was in India for the India-UK Strategic Dialogue, was reminded of India's displeasure regarding the Khalistani threats. Doval called on the government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take assertive public action against these elements, including measures such as deportation or legal prosecution.

The meeting of these two top security officials in the Indian capital followed a statement by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. He announced that any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London were "completely unacceptable". Through a tweet, he asserted, "We have made clear to High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and the Government of India that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount."

The UK government led by Prime Minister Sunak reaffirmed the value they attach to the "safety and security of friends and colleagues" at the Indian High Commission in London. They maintained the critical importance of securing their premises in the heart of the British capital.

Notably, similar posters threatening Indian diplomats and premises abroad have surfaced in other countries including Canada, Australia, and the United States. India’s External Affairs Ministry (MEA) has addressed these concerns with the respective governments, urging them to provide no room for those advocating violence, promoting separatism, or legitimizing terrorism under the guise of freedom of expression.

Regarding the security concerns in London, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated, "As you are aware, we have had problems with the security of our mission in London. We have taken up this latest issue of threats against our diplomats with the UK authorities. We have noted these comments by UK Foreign Secretary, but we would naturally judge them by what happens on the ground."

The two NSAs, who have engaged in frequent high-level dialogues, discussed a wide array of bilateral, regional, and global issues. They also reviewed the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and explored potential areas for future technological collaboration.

Following their discussions on shared regional and global concerns, NSA Doval and Barrow participated in delegation-level talks. The two nations reaffirmed their close strategic partnership and agreed to give utmost priority to enhancing their security connections.

In addition to deepening mutually beneficial collaboration in critical and emerging technologies, India and the UK also pledged to work closely on counter-terrorism, counter-terror financing, combating internet-based terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, and counter-radicalization. The UK NSA is scheduled to meet other senior officials of the Indian government during his stay in New Delhi, further strengthening the ties between the two countries.

Khalistani movement

The Khalistani movement, which seeks to establish a separate Sikh state called Khalistan in the Punjab region, has seen a resurgence in recent years, particularly in the United Kingdom. This has led to a series of violent incidents and increased tensions between India and the UK.

1. Incident at the Indian High Commission in London: In a recent incident, pro-Khalistan groups in the UK threatened officers of the Indian High Commission. The threats were so severe that India urged the UK to take strong public action, such as deportation or legal prosecution, against these extremist elements. This came after alarming posters calling for a "Kill India" Khalistan rally outside the London mission were shared online. The issue was raised by India's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, during his talks with his British counterpart, Sir Tim Barrow. India has asked the UK and other countries to ensure the safety and security of Indian diplomats and its missions (source).

2. Posters Targeting Indian Diplomats: Khalistani elements in Canada and the UK put up posters targeting Indian diplomats, which India strongly condemned as "unacceptable". The Indian government has taken up the issue with the Justin Trudeau administration, emphasizing that no space should be given to extremist and terrorist elements in the name of "freedom of expression". The safety of Indian diplomats and its missions is of utmost importance for the Indian government (source).

3. India-UK Strategic Dialogue: In a meeting between India's NSA Ajit Doval and his UK counterpart Tim Barrow, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation to address violent extremism and radicalism. India urged the UK to take "strong public action" against extremist elements threatening individual officers of the Indian high commission, such as deportation or legal prosecution (source).

4. Attempted Murder of Police Detective: Three men were charged over the claim of responsibility for the attempted murder of a police detective, Det Ch Insp John Caldwell, in Omagh, County Tyrone. The charge each of the men faces relates to the claim of responsibility by the New IRA for the shooting. The three men were linked to the activity of the New IRA in Derry (source).

5. Murder of Tory Party Activist's Son: Two men were found guilty of stabbing the son of a Tory party activist to death when they mistook him for a gang rival. Aspiring lawyer Sven Badzak was set upon by a gang of six youths and murdered in an attack lasting just 20 seconds. The two men were sentenced to life in prison (source).

India's reaction to these incidents has been one of strong condemnation and calls for action. The Indian government has urged the UK and other countries to take strict action against these extremist elements, including deportation and legal prosecution. It has also emphasized the importance of the safety and security of its diplomats and missions. The Indian government has made it clear that it views these acts as unacceptable and has taken up the issue with the respective administrations of the countries involved