UK Minister Tariq Ahmad set for key India talks

UK Minister of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Tariq Ahmad began a visit to India in the first such senior-level visit since tensions over violent pro-Khalistan protests outside the Indian High Commission in London in March.

The four-day visit also follows days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met warmly in Hiroshima, indicating the détente in ties. Mr. Ahmad, called “Lord Ahmad” in the UK, who deals with South Asia amongst other regions, began his trip from Jodhpur on Saturday.

He will also visit Delhi and Hyderabad and is expected to focus on technology and innovation projects in India.

“Building on the 2030 road map for India-U.K. future relations, we are deepening our collaboration on science and technology, bringing new innovations to both our nations,” Mr. Ahmad said, according to a release by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Saturday. During his tour, he will visit both cultural sites and high-tech research facilities, to “accelerate UK-India collaboration on science, technology and health”, including technology start-ups at the innovation campus in Hyderabad, a space launch vehicle company and the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, the release said.