In response, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move following Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has weighed in on the recent diplomatic tension between Canada and India, emphasizing America's deep concern over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations regarding India's potential involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Blinken's remarks were made during a press conference on Friday, where he underscored the importance of cooperation between New Delhi and Ottawa in resolving the issue.
Blinken stated, "First, we are deeply concerned about the allegations that Prime Minister Trudeau has raised. We have been consulting throughout very closely with our Canadian colleagues, and not just consulting, coordinating with them on this issue. And from our perspective, it is critical that the Canadian investigation proceeds and it would be important that India work with the Canadians on this investigation. We want to see accountability, and it's important that the investigation runs its course and leads to that result."
The allegations made by Trudeau had ignited tensions between India and Canada earlier in the week, with India vehemently rejecting the claims as "absurd" and "motivated." In response, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move following Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case.
When asked about reports that President Joe Biden had personally raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Blinken refrained from providing details, stating, "I'm not going to characterise or otherwise speak to diplomatic conversations that we have. 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 also highlighted the United States' vigilance regarding instances of alleged transnational repression, emphasizing the importance of addressing such issues on an international scale.
The case revolves around the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, who was designated a terrorist by India in 2020. While Canada has not publicly presented evidence to support its claims, reports indicate that Ottawa's allegations are based on both human and signals intelligence, as well as inputs from an ally within the Five Eyes intelligence network.
The tension between India and Canada escalated further, with India calling on Canada to take action against terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspending visa services for Canadians. India also requested Canada to reduce the size of its diplomatic staff in the country to achieve parity in diplomatic presence.
The strained relations between India and Canada have been ongoing for several months, primarily due to increased activities of pro-Khalistani elements in the North American country. India has expressed its belief that the Trudeau government has not adequately addressed its concerns in this regard.