US Concerned over India-Canada Tensions
US Secretary of State expresses concern over India-Canada tensions and calls for accountability in the investigation of Khalistani terrorist's killing.
US Concerned Over India-Canada Tensions Amid Trudeau’s Allegations in Khalistani Terrorist Case, Emphasizes Investigation Necessity
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed “deep concern” over the strained India-Canada relations following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations against the Indian government in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau claimed Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s fatal shooting in British Columbia on June 18.
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Blinken emphasized the importance of accountability in this matter and stressed the significance of allowing the investigation to proceed to its conclusion. Speaking at a press conference in New York, Blinken revealed that the US has been in direct communication with the Indian government and is closely coordinating with Canada on this issue. He called for India to cooperate with Canada in the investigation.
🇺🇸US Secretary of State expresses concern over Trudeau’s allegations against 🇮🇳India on Khalistani terrorist killing
🔍Emphasises need for accountability & investigation
🤝Calls for India’s cooperation in probehttps://t.co/ReBsaKopq1
— Swarajya (@SwarajyaMag) September 23, 2023
We are deeply concerned about the allegations that Prime Minister Trudeau has raised. We have been consulting very closely with our Canadian colleagues, and not just consulting, coordinating with them on this issue,” Blinken stated during the press conference.
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Blinken Urges Collaboration in Probe
From the US perspective, Blinken emphasized the critical nature of the Canadian investigation and the need for it to be completed. He urged India to work collaboratively with Canada to ensure accountability in the case. However, he refrained from providing specific details about diplomatic conversations between the US and both countries, emphasizing the importance of allowing the investigation to move forward.
“I’m not going to characterize or otherwise speak to diplomatic conversations that we’ve had. We’ve been engaged directly with the Indian government as well. And again, I think the most productive thing that can happen now is to see this investigation move forward and be completed. And we would hope that our Indian friends would cooperate with that investigation as well,” Blinken stated.
Tensions flared between #India and #Canada early this week following #Trudeau‘s explosive allegations of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of #Khalistani extremist #Nijjar on his country’s soil on June 18 in British Columbia.https://t.co/Hzxk8OAR3G
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) September 23, 2023
Blinken also touched on the broader issue of alleged transnational repression, which the US takes very seriously. He emphasized the importance of all countries refraining from engaging in such acts and highlighted the need for international vigilance in this regard.
Trudeau statement
Trudeau, in a separate statement, revealed that Canada had shared credible allegations related to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar with India several weeks ago. He expressed Canada’s willingness to work constructively with India to address this serious matter. Trudeau’s comments followed a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
MEA Rejects Trudeau’s Claims
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India issued a press release rejecting Trudeau’s allegations. MEA stated that similar allegations had been made by Trudeau to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had been completely rejected. According to MEA, allegations of the Indian government’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated.
The situation surrounding the allegations made by Trudeau has added complexity to India-Canada relations, and the response from the US underscores the international significance of the matter. It remains to be seen how the investigation unfolds and whether it will lead to a resolution of the dispute between the two countries.
