India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited the Chatham House think tank in London, where he engaged in a significant conversation on India’s foreign policy, strategic autonomy, and global positioning, which ended with a demonstration outside the venue by Khalistani seperatists. His visit was part of an official tour of the United Kingdom from March 4-9, during which he was scheduled to meet his British counterpart David Lammy and other key officials. The discussions aimed to strengthen the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership, covering trade, health, education, people-to-people ties, and defense cooperation.
Jaishankar’s Address at Chatham House
During his discussion at Chatham House, Dr. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to strategic autonomy, emphasizing the country’s independent approach to global affairs. He advocated for a multipolar world order, underscoring India’s role in ensuring global stability through diverse power centers.
One of the key points in his address was India’s growing regional partnerships, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, aimed at fostering economic growth and security. Additionally, he reiterated India’s dedication to multilateralism, highlighting the nation’s active participation in global institutions to address critical challenges such as climate change and terrorism.
Dr. Jaishankar also touched upon the issue of Kashmir, lauding India’s efforts in restoring economic activity and social justice in the region. He emphasized the significance of holding successful elections with a high voter turnout. Addressing concerns over Jammu and Kashmir’s status, he asserted that the resolution of the issue remains incomplete until the return of the portion currently under illegal Pakistani occupation.
“When asked about the Kashmir issue, Jaishankar stated: ‘Look, in Kashmir, we have done a good job solving most of it. Removing Article 370 was step number one. Restoring growth, economic activity, and social justice was step number two. Holding elections with a very high turnout was step number three.’ He further emphasized, ‘I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. When that’s done, I assure you—Kashmir is solved.’”
Heckling and Attack by Khalistani Separatists
Following his address, Khalistani separatists heckled and attempted to attack Dr. Jaishankar outside Chatham House as he was leaving in a car. A video circulating online showed a man running towards Jaishankar’s vehicle and tearing an Indian national flag in front of London police officers, who appeared unresponsive to the act of vandalism. This breach of security has raised concerns over the handling of such incidents by the British authorities.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly condemned the “provocative activities” of the separatist group and criticized the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. A spokesperson for the MEA stated, “We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations.”
This incident comes amid heightened tensions regarding Khalistani separatist activities in Western countries, where India has repeatedly raised concerns about the security of its diplomats and officials. The Indian government has urged the UK authorities to take necessary action to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Jaishankar’s Continued Diplomatic Engagements
Despite the security breach, Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to the UK remains a crucial step in strengthening Indo-British relations. He is set to continue his engagements with UK officials to discuss key issues affecting both nations. Following his UK trip, Jaishankar will travel to Ireland from March 6-7, where he is scheduled to meet Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris, interact with other officials, and engage with the Indian diaspora.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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