NEW DELHI: India on Friday conveyed to US its serious concerns over increasing activities of pro-Khalistani elements in Canada at the ‘2+2’ foreign and defence ministerial meeting.
“We have made our concerns very very clear. We have core security concerns and I am sure you are all aware of recent video that has surfaced from one such individual,” foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said, adding the US side understood New Delhi’s concerns.
Earlier today, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said that he wants India to assist Canada in the investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Blinken, who is in India for the 2+2 meeting, said that he discussed the matter with external affairs minister S Jaishankar during their talks in the national capital earlier today, Bloomberg reported.
The Biden administration has been walking a tightrope ever since a diplomatic spat erupted between New Delhi and Ottawa after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s allegations that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar’s murder. India has dismissed the allegations as “absurd.”
Blinken told reporters that resolving the dispute would require Canada moving forward with its investigation and India working with Canada on it.
“As a friend of both, we think it’s very important that India work with Canada on its investigation, and that they find a way to resolve this difference in a cooperative way,” he said.
So far, Canada has not provided any credible evidence to prove India’s involvement in the murder.
While Canada heavily relied on US to back its claim and come down heavily on India, Washington has so far kept an arm’s distance from what it describes as a “bilateral issue”.
Observers say that the Biden administration does not want to accost India, which is seen as an important strategy ally in the Indo-Pacific amid China’s expansionist ambitions. At the same time, it can’t leave its Nato ally Canada in the cold.
This is why Washington has decided to let the dispute play out between the two countries even as it hopes that it gets resolved without its intervention.
(With inputs from agencies)
Watch “Strongest bilateral partnership we’ve ever had…” Blinken lauds India-US ties ahead of 2+2 dialogue
“We have made our concerns very very clear. We have core security concerns and I am sure you are all aware of recent video that has surfaced from one such individual,” foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said, adding the US side understood New Delhi’s concerns.
Earlier today, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said that he wants India to assist Canada in the investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Blinken, who is in India for the 2+2 meeting, said that he discussed the matter with external affairs minister S Jaishankar during their talks in the national capital earlier today, Bloomberg reported.
The Biden administration has been walking a tightrope ever since a diplomatic spat erupted between New Delhi and Ottawa after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s allegations that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar’s murder. India has dismissed the allegations as “absurd.”
Blinken told reporters that resolving the dispute would require Canada moving forward with its investigation and India working with Canada on it.
“As a friend of both, we think it’s very important that India work with Canada on its investigation, and that they find a way to resolve this difference in a cooperative way,” he said.
So far, Canada has not provided any credible evidence to prove India’s involvement in the murder.
While Canada heavily relied on US to back its claim and come down heavily on India, Washington has so far kept an arm’s distance from what it describes as a “bilateral issue”.
Observers say that the Biden administration does not want to accost India, which is seen as an important strategy ally in the Indo-Pacific amid China’s expansionist ambitions. At the same time, it can’t leave its Nato ally Canada in the cold.
This is why Washington has decided to let the dispute play out between the two countries even as it hopes that it gets resolved without its intervention.
(With inputs from agencies)
Watch “Strongest bilateral partnership we’ve ever had…” Blinken lauds India-US ties ahead of 2+2 dialogue