National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has asked his UK counterpart Tim Barrow to crack down on Khalistani radicals active in the country who have been threatening Indian officials and take strongest possible action, including deportation of such individuals.

Sources said that it was conveyed in no uncertain terms that the British government has to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats and mission given planned protests by Khalistan radicals on Saturday. While the British NSA has assured action, sources said that the real test will be on Saturday and the Indian government will be keeping a close watch on steps being taken by the UK government to ensure law and order.

In his meeting with Barrow, who is currently on a visit to India, Doval held wide-ranging discussions on regional and global security and reviewed bilateral cooperation, including on futuristic areas for technology collaboration between the two countries. The threat posed by Khalistani radicals based out of the UK was discussed at length, sources said, with Doval making the point that those threatening individual officers of the Indian High Commission in the UK should face strong public action, including legal prosecution and deportation.

Pro-Khalistan groups have issued posters inciting violence against senior Indian diplomats in the UK as well as in the US, Canada and Australia, triggering concerns in New Delhi. “The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation to address violent extremism and radicalism. There can be no justification for violent extremism and radicalization in a democracy,” source said.

The two sides agreed at the delegation level talks to work closely on issues like counter terrorism, counter terror financing, use of the internet for terrorism purposes and illicit drug trafficking. There was also agreement that close cooperation is needed on counter radicalisation measures.