Lammy meets PM Modi, pushes UK-India counter-terrorism cooperation and trade deal

Britain and India held talks on strengthening their counter-terrorism cooperation in the wake of recent cross-border clashes between India and Pakistan, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy told Reuters on Saturday following a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Lammy’s visit makes him the most senior Western official to travel to both New Delhi and Islamabad since the South Asian rivals agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, ending their most intense period of conflict in nearly 30 years.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need for decisive international action against terrorism and those supporting it in a meeting with Lammy.

The Prime Minister’s Office said Lammy strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.
PM Modi expressed satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement and Double Contribution Convention and appreciated the constructive engagement by both sides that led to this milestone.

The PMO statement said Modi welcomed the growing momentum in bilateral ties and expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
He welcomed the continued collaboration under the Technology Security Initiative and noted its potential to shape trusted and secure innovation ecosystems.

Tensions had surged in April after 26 people were killed in India’s Kashmir, an incident India blamed on Pakistan-backed militants, which Islamabad denied. In response, India launched strikes on what it described as terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan, prompting retaliatory moves and escalation until both countries agreed to halt hostilities.

”We want the situation to be maintained, but of course we recognise fragility, particularly in the backdrop of terrorism, terrorism designed to destabilise India,” Lammy said in an interview at the residence of the British High Commissioner in New Delhi.

”We are keen to continue to work with our Indian partners on counter-terrorism measures.”

He said he discussed the next steps with both Modi and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, but gave no specifics.

Last year, India and Britain discussed combating the financing of terrorism, cooperation between law enforcement and judicial bodies and information sharing.

Lammy said he also discussed boosting trade between the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies. The countries concluded talks for a free trade deal early last month.

”I know that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is very much looking forward to coming to India very soon to sign the free trade agreement,” Lammy said. ”There is so much that our two nations can continue to do together.”

With inputs from agencies