NEW DELHI: On Friday, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval will meet with Tim Barrow, his UK counterpart, at Sardar Patel Bhawan in the national capital. The meeting will reportedly address various bilateral issues, including the activities of pro-Khalistan radicals.

The meeting follows the demise of Avtar Singh Khanda, the leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) based in the UK. Khanda was allegedly the mentor of separatist Amritpal Singh, who passed away under unclear circumstances in a Birmingham hospital on June 15th.

India has expressed significant concerns about the British core establishment seemingly downplaying the increase in pro-Khalistan extremism in the UK and its implications for bilateral relations. Anonymous sources have shared this information.

The Indian government was highly displeased when radicals, led by Khanda, desecrated the Indian Tricolour during a protest at the Indian high commission in London on March 19. In an unprecedented move, the Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) for a crime committed outside the country. The case was subsequently transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at the request of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

According to senior officials who preferred anonymity, the Delhi Police Special Cell has identified Khanda, Gursharan Singh, and Jasvir Singh as the primary individuals responsible for the London incident involving flag desecration. The NIA has reportedly identified approximately twelve suspects connected to the flag-desecration incident.

While official details about the Doval-Barrow meeting remain undisclosed, it is reported that Ajit Doval will address concerns regarding the targeting of Indian diplomats, particularly High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and a Consul General, by pro-Khalistan extremists. This issue will be raised in light of posters announcing a protest rally scheduled for July 8 outside the Indian high commission in London.

The rally has been triggered by the recent killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a separatist associated with the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Nijjar's death was allegedly the result of a gang-related shooting incident in Canada on June 19.

As per sources, Doval is expected to seek assurances from Barrow regarding the safety of Indian diplomats in the UK. He will likely request guarantees that Indian diplomatic premises will not be violated by extremists.