As India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, prepares to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the ongoing diplomatic crisis between India and Canada, tensions continue to simmer. This meeting follows their previous encounter during the Quad ministerial meeting, which included foreign ministers from Japan and Australia but did not address the Canada issue, as it was not a bilateral discussion.
State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller hinted at the possibility of discussing the Canada issue during the upcoming meeting but offered no confirmation. Miller emphasized that the US has already broached the matter with Indian counterparts, urging them to cooperate with the Canadian investigation.
In response to the India-Canada diplomatic crisis, Jaishankar made his first official statement in New York. He clarified that India has unequivocally informed the Canadian government that the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada does not align with Indian government policy. Furthermore, India has requested specific information from Canada regarding the incident, which has not been provided to date.
Jaishankar also drew attention to the prevalence of secessionist forces, organized crime, violence, and extremism in Canada during his address to the UN General Assembly. He called on member states not to let political convenience dictate responses to terrorism and violence, a statement that was interpreted as a veiled critique of Canada.
Canada’s UN ambassador, Bob Rae, disclosed that he was approached by his Indian counterpart, Ruchira Kamoj, at the UN. Kamoj stressed the importance of continued collaboration between the two governments to resolve the ongoing situation.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted that Canada had shared evidence of Nijjar’s killing with India several weeks ago. This claim has prompted the United States to call for a thorough and impartial investigation, along with a request for India’s cooperation in the process.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, has suggested that there is compelling evidence of foreign government involvement in Nijjar Singh’s killing. Singh has called for a comprehensive investigation and the prosecution of those responsible.
Amidst the diplomatic tensions, both India and Canada have issued advisories to their citizens living in the respective countries, advising them to remain vigilant and exercise caution.
