Three officials said Monday that trade discussions between India and Britain would continue this year despite a British tabloid claim that Delhi had “disengaged” when London failed to denounce Sikh militants.
India’s foreign ministry spokesman said trade discussions and Sikh separatist activity in Britain should not be connected.
A British High Commission official in New Delhi said economic discussions would continue as scheduled, and security authorities in London were addressing India’s worries over Sikh separatist activity in Britain.
“Both the UK and India are dedicated to completing an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and finished the current round of trade discussions last month,” a Department for Business and Trade spokeswoman said.
“We are working with the Metropolitan Police to examine security and make measures to protect the safety of its personnel,” the statement said.
Sikh separatist rallies and damage outside its London and US and Canadian missions have angered New Delhi.
Pro-Khalistan protestors in London removed an Indian flag from the building’s balcony last month to criticize police action against a Sikh preacher.
Sikhs in India and abroad are reviving Khalistan.
India summoned the senior British diplomat in New Delhi last month to express its “strong displeasure” over the London incident.
Afterward, the foreign ministry said India wanted action, not pledges.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly condemned violence on London High Commission workers and said police were investigating.
After accusing Britain of failing to denounce a Sikh separatist organization, India “disengaged” from the negotiations, The Times said on Monday.
The media claim was “baseless,” according to another Indian foreign ministry official.
Britain’s Indo-Pacific foreign strategy seeks to strengthen links with the region’s fast-growing countries by extending its 29 billion pounds ($35.5 billion) trade with India.
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