Bilateral trade is a major agenda item as Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the United Kingdom on Wednesday (July 23, 2025), but the India-U.K. talks will also feature discussions on pro-Khalistan elements in the U.K., and India’s policy on bringing U.K.-based fugitives to justice.
The presence of Khalistani activists in the U.K. and elsewhere undermines “social cohesion”, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a briefing on the PM’s visit on Tuesday.
The visit is also likely to lead to the unveiling of the India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement that Mr. Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had announced on May 6.
Last minute work on FTA
“We are working on legal scrubbing and other last minute work that needs to be done… The U.K. is the sixth-largest investor in India, with cumulative investment of $36 billion. Interestingly, India is also a major investor in the U.K., with nearly $20 billion in cumulative FDI,” Mr. Misri said, indicating that last-minute discussions are taking place regarding the FTA.
According to diplomatic sources, the FTA is expected to result in tangible benefits for both countries in sectors such as advanced machinery, cars, and spirits, mainly Scotch whiskey. According to the U.K. government, the FTA has the potential to increase bilateral trade by nearly 39%, or an amount of 25.5 billion pounds, equivalent to ₹34.4 billion.
Khalistani security concerns
While boosting India-U.K. commerce, the talks will also take up the presence of the Khalistan elements who have repeatedly targeted the Indian High Commissioner in London in the recent past, and campaigned for a free Khalistan. This is also among the security concerns being taken into consideration during the Prime Minister’s visit, resulting in several details, including meeting venues, being kept under wraps.
In March, while on a visit to the U.K., External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was accosted by a protester who attempted to tear up the Indian flag. The Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the incident and asked the U.K. government to “fully live upto its diplomatic obligations”.
The Prime Minister’s visit will also provide India with an opportunity to discuss the presence of fugitives like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi on British soil. Mr. Misri said that India is confident of bringing these wanted individuals to justice, pointing to previous successful extraditions. “We have been in touch with each other. We will try to explain them that how others like Tahawwur Rana has been extradited… We can do it,” Mr. Misri said.
Likely to discuss sanctions
Mr. Modi and Mr. Starmer are expected to discuss international developments, including the U.K.’s support to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. Significantly, while the European Union announced specific sanctions on July 18 against the Nayara energy refinery in Gujarat, which is a joint venture with Russian energy giant Rosneft, the United Kingdom did not include the Indian refinery in its sanctions announced on July 21.
Mr. Modi will have an audience with King Charles III.
Published – July 22, 2025 11:33 pm IST
