However, while she spoke about importance of bringing the guilty to justice, Thomas also underscored the significance of ties between the two countries, saying Canada’s ability to work in Indo-Pacific depends on having a healthy relationship with India.
Nijjar killing: India is actively cooperating with Canada in investigation, says PM Justin Trudeau’s aide
India has so far officially maintained that Canada never shared any evidence or information to back its claim that Indian agents were linked to the murder. While India launched a probe into information shared by US about similar involvement of an Indian official in a plot to assassinate another Khalistan seperatist, Gurpatwant Pannun, it hasn’t so far announced any probe in the Canadian case.
Speaking on the day of her retirement, Thomas said the US indictment of an Indian national in the Pannun plot and the information released aided Canada’s position on the Nijjar issue.
“I wouldn’t describe them as not cooperating. We have made advancements in that relationship and they understand what we believe happened. The RCMP investigation is under way and they will hopefully be able to prosecute those responsible and accountable,” said Thomas, who made several trips to India last year to discuss the Nijjar case.
In her interview to CTV, Thomas said India, particularly the NSA, is working with Canada to resolve the issue.
“My discussions with my counterpart in India have been fruitful and I think they have moved things forward,” she said, while calling Indian cooperation an evolution because India had been dismissive of allegations initially.
When asked if this evolution was spurred on by the US Pannun case, she said the two were connected for sure. “The US judicial system is different from ours. They have sealed indictments the way we don’t. They were investigating a conspiracy and we are investigating a murder. The information they revealed supported our position and our assertions with India,” said Thomas.
The official, however, underlined the significance of bilateral ties with India and the need for the two countries to work together in the Indo-Pacific. “We think it’s important that we resolve what happened to a Canadian citizen but we have to have people to people ties. We have a huge diaspora. We have to have a trade relationship. Our ability to function in the Indo-Pacific does rely on having a healthy relationship with India and we are working back towards it,” Thomas added.