India-Canada Row: Amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over the killing of a Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday. The most recent diplomatic crisis between two of America's allies, Canada and India, is anticipated to be a significant topic of discussion during the discussions, however, officials from both sides are mum on the agenda.
"I don't want to preview the conversations he (Blinken) will have in that meeting (with Jaishankar), but as we've made clear, we've raised this; we have engaged with our Indian counterparts on this and encouraged them to cooperate with the Canadian investigation, and we continue to encourage them to cooperate," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said as quoted by news agency ANI.
Hindu Forum Canada seeks ban on Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. (Image credits: Reuters)
While the meeting between two diplomats was scheduled before the India and Canada crisis broke out, the US has been urging India to cooperate in the Canadian investigation into the murder of a Khalistani separatist in British Columbia in June this year.
India-Canada Tensions: PM Justin Trudeau's Allegations
The diplomatic relationship between India and the Western nation hit a new low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of killing a notorious Khalistani terrorist. Trudeau claimed that his government had credible evidence linking the murder of Nijjar to Indian agents.
India Rejects Trudeau's Claims
India rejected the allegations made by Trudeau and called them "absurd" and "motivated". In a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official, India also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. India has also asked Canada to crack down on terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspended Canadian visa services.
(With Inputs From Agencies)