In a concerning incident on March 5, 2025, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar faced a security breach in London when a Khalistan extremist attempted to disrupt his official visit. The incident occurred as Jaishankar was departing from the discussion at the Chatham House think tank, a renowned policy institute.
Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s vehicle was surrounded by Khalistan supporters in London. During this, Khalistan supporters came in front of Jaishankar’s car and tore the tricolour, Jaishankar is currently in London.
He participated in a special event at Chatham House Think Tank. After the program was over, as soon as he moved towards his car. The Khalistani protesters who were already protesting there started raising slogans after seeing them. After this, a person carrying a tricolour flag stood in front of his car and blocked the way.
As Jaishankar approached his vehicle, a group of Kalistani supporters escalated their protest, with one individual rushing towards the minister’s car and tearing Indian national flags in the presence of law enforcement officers. Video footage circulating on social media captures the moment the posters desecrated the tricolour, while police officers initially appeared hesitant to intervene.
The Metropolitan Police Service later detained the Khalistani extremist involved, along with other protesters, following the escalation. The incident has raised serious concerns about the adequacy of security measures for foreign dignitaries in the UK, especially amidst rising activities of extremist groups.
Jaishanakar’s visit to the UK, scheduled from March 4 to 9, aims to strengthen the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership, encompassing areas such as trade, health, education, and defence cooperation. Despite the disruption, the minister is expected to continue his engagements, including meetings with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and other senior officials.
The Indian government has expressed strong disapproval of the incident, condemning the disrespect shown to the national flag and emphasising the need for host nations to ensure the safety and dignity of visiting dignitaries. Discussions are underway to address the security lapses and prevent such occurrences in the future.