India-UK FTA talks underway

NEW DELHI: Union government has described a British media report that India has stopped talks on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom as baseless. The report published by The Times had said that the FTA talks between India and the United Kingdom are in trouble following the pro-Khalistan demonstrations outside the Indian Embassy in London during which the Indian tricolor was insulted.

After the fierce demonstration by Khalistani supporters, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had issued a strong statement in this regard and the British Ambassador to India was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs. The newspaper had written that India wants the UK government to publicly condemn Khalistani extremism.

It is noteworthy that there have been several rounds of talks between India and UK and the FTA is expected to be signed in 2023.The agreement will provide great opportunities for increasing trade and investment between the two countries. Britain’s Indian-origin PM Rishi Sunak has already expressed hope that this trade agreement will be signed soon.