Expect host nation to fulfill its obligations, says MEA deploring security breach during EAM Jaishankar's UK visit

Ministry of External Affairs

Condemning an incident of breach of security for External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in London, India in no uncertain terms expressed that Delhi expects the host government to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations in such cases and deplored the "misuse of democratic freedoms" by such elements.

A pro-Khalistani protester attempted to break barricades while some others were shouting anti-India slogans when S Jaishankar was about the board the car. The incident happened as Jaishankar was leaving the Chatham House after concluding an interactive session at the institute, home to Royal Institute of International Affairs, on Wednesday evening.

The external affairs minister was in London as in the first leg of his six-day visit to the UK and Ireland from Tuesday that is aimed at exploring ways to further boost bilateral cooperation. "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of the external affairs minister to the UK," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists," he said.

During his ongoing visit to the United Kingdom, EAM Jaishankar had held discussions with UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and several other senior leaders.

In his meeting with UK's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Tuesday, Jaishankar noted that the two leaders held discussions on areas such as flow of talent and joint efforts between India and the UK to tackle "trafficking and extremism".

He said on X, "A good meeting with Home Secretary @YvetteCooperMP today in London. We discussed the flow of talent, people to people exchanges, and joint efforts in tackling trafficking and extremism."

Videos posted on social media showed a small group of pro-Khalistan protesters holding yellow flags were shouting slogans against India and Jaishankar on the opposite side of the road from Chatham House. As Jaishankar was about to leave the institute, a tall man was seen attempting to break the police cordon and run towards Jaishankar's motorcade.

The tall and bearded man even tried to block the minister's motorcade by standing in front of it. The man was swiftly taken away by Metropolitan Police officers. It was not the first such incident of breach of security by pro-Khalistan elements.