Mumbai, October 9
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised the issue of Khalistani extremism with his British counterpart Keir Starmer, stressing that radical and violent elements must not be allowed to misuse the freedoms of democratic societies.
Briefing the media after the bilateral meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Prime Minister Modi “emphasised the need for legal action” against Khalistani extremists active in the United Kingdom.
“The issue of Khalistani extremism was flagged again during the discussions held today,” Misri said. “Prime Minister emphasised that radicalism and violent extremism have no place in democratic societies and should not be allowed to exploit the freedoms provided by such systems. There is a need to act within legal frameworks available to both sides to curb these threats,” he added.
The talks between the two leaders took place in Mumbai, during Starmer’s first official visit to India since assuming office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The meeting covered a wide range of issues, including security cooperation, counterterrorism, trade, and people-to-people ties.
Prime Minister Modi also conveyed his deepest sympathies and condolences to the UK over the recent Manchester synagogue attack, which left several people injured earlier this week.
Following the meeting, both leaders issued a joint statement condemning terrorism and violent extremism “in all its forms and manifestations.” The statement said the two countries stand united in combating radicalisation and terrorist activities that threaten peace and pluralism.
“They called for zero tolerance for terrorism and concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law,” the statement read.
India and the UK agreed to intensify cooperation in key areas, including:
Countering radicalisation and violent extremism
Combating the financing of terrorism and cross-border movement of terrorists
Preventing misuse of new technologies for terrorist purposes
Tackling terrorist recruitment and propaganda
Enhancing cooperation in information sharing, judicial collaboration, and capacity building
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to work closely at multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to strengthen the global response against terrorism.
Prime Minister Starmer, in turn, strongly condemned the April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and reiterated the UK’s support for India in its fight against terrorism.
The discussions mark a renewed effort by both nations to reinforce their strategic partnership amid shared concerns over extremist movements operating across borders and to ensure that democratic freedoms are not exploited by violent actors.