New Delhi has said that pro-Khalistan entities have been “misusing” their asylum status in the United Kingdom (UK) to aid and abet terrorist activities in India, per an official statement on Wednesday.
The statement was released after the fifth India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue (HAD) in New Delhi. It was co-chaired by India’s home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Matthew Rycroft, the Permanent Secretary at UK’s Home Office.
The Indian side requested “better cooperation” and “increased monitoring” of pro-Khalistan extremists who have been targeting Indian interests from the UK, it said. “India’s concerns over the breach of security of Indian High Commission [on 19 March] were also emphasized.”
New Delhi said that both the sides agreed to deepen “bilateral engagement” and “maintain the momentum for enhanced security cooperation” during the meeting.
Further, the two governments identified steps to advance cooperation in the realms of counter-terrorism, cyber security, global supply chains, drug trafficking, migration, extradition as well as anti-India activities in UK.
Attack on Indian High Commission in London
The crucial meeting comes almost a month after the Indian High Commission in London was vandalised in a brazen attack by pro-Khalistan sympathizers during a demonstration.
The demonstration was organised in the wake of a police crackdown in Punjab to hunt down radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, who till this date remains absconding.
Hours after the attack, the seniormost British diplomat in New Delhi at the time was summoned at the Indian foreign ministry, which complained about the “complete absence of security” at the diplomatic premises.
Amid the diplomatic row, UK’s National Security Advisor Tim Barrow also flew down to New Delhi last month to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.