Washington [US], October 16, 2024: The United States has termed Canada’s allegations against India in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar as “extremely serious” and urged India to “cooperate” with Ottawa’s ongoing investigation. This statement comes amid a growing diplomatic crisis between India and Canada.
The tensions escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of being involved in Nijjar’s assassination in British Columbia in 2023. India has firmly rejected the allegations, calling them “absurd” and “politically motivated.”
On Monday, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in connection with its investigation into Nijjar’s killing, while India responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats, including Canada’s Acting High Commissioner in India, Steward Ross Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert, and First Secretary Marie Catherine Joly.
“We have made clear that the Canadian allegations are extremely serious and they need to be taken seriously, and we want to see the Government of India cooperate with Canada and its investigation. But India has chosen an alternate path,” US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Miller emphasized the importance of cooperation between India and Canada to resolve the issue, adding, “We have urged them to cooperate and will continue to urge them to do so.”
When asked about the status of the investigation and the validity of the allegations, Miller deferred to both countries for comment. However, he assured that the US-India relationship remains strong despite the diplomatic tensions between India and Canada.
“India continues to be an incredibly strong partner of the United States. We’ve worked with them on a number of matters including our shared vision for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. When we have concerns, we have the kind of relationship where we can take those concerns to them and have very frank, candid conversations,” he added.
The diplomatic rift between India and Canada has yet to be resolved, as Canada’s allegations remain unsubstantiated by evidence, and tensions continue to simmer between the two nations.
