National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is likely to meet his UK counterpart Tim Barrow in Delhi on Friday, said reports. The meeting assumes significance in the wake of increasing Khalistani activities overseas, including in the UK.
This is the second meeting between the duo. Doval had met Barrow on March 30 just after the attack on Indian High Commission in the UK.
Doval's meeting with Barrow also comes as Indian diplomats in the UK, including high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and a consul general, being named by pro-Khalistan extremists in posters announcing a protest rally to the Indian High Commission in London on July 8.
The NSA is also likely to ask for guarantees from Barrow on the protection for Indian diplomats in UK and steps to avoid violation of premises of Indian consulates, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
After the consulate attack in San Francisco by Khalistani extremists, India said that it is incumbent on host governments to provide security to Indian diplomats and India's missions.
Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said that countries should not be giving space to those who advocate violence or propagate separatism or legitimise terrorism."
Menwhile, US lawmakers and influential Indian-Americans have condemned the bid to set on fire the Indian consulate in San Francisco.
They also slammed the "violent rhetoric" against India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu and said free speech does not mean a license to incite violence or vandalise property.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, Congressmen Ro Khanna and Michael Waltz, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, said violence against diplomatic facilities will not be tolerated. "As the co-chairs of the India Caucus, we strongly condemn the attempted arson and vandalism at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and the posters circulating on social media with violent rhetoric aimed at Indian diplomats, including Ambassador Sandhu," they said.
"We support the right to free speech and freedom of expression for every American but that is not a license to vandalise property or incite violence. Violence against diplomatic facilities is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated. We urge the State Department to coordinate with law enforcement in their investigation of the damage at the Indian Consulate expeditiously and hold those involved accountable," they added.
