- By Kamal Kumar
- Wed, 20 Sep 2023 11:24 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Canadian officials requested its allies, including the United States, to publicly condemn India over the allegations of the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. However, no heed was paid to the request, according to a report in The Washington Post. The incident supposedly took place before the G20 summit, highlighting the diplomatic challenges faced by the US government and its allies in cruising the relationship with India, an important player in the Indo-Pacific region, noted the report.
However, a spokeswoman for Canada's foreign Minister refuted the claims and said that they will continue to apprise their allies of relevant information, while Canadian security agencies investigate the matter.
“We will continue to keep our allies, including at the officials level, apprised of relevant information, while Canadian security agencies work fast to get to the bottom of the matter,” spokeswoman Emily Williams said.
The reported killing of Nijjar, a Canadian national, on June 18 prompted confidential discussions among the senior officials of Five Eyes nations in the period preceding the September G20 summit in New Delhi. However, there was no public acknowledgement before the summit, which was deemed a significant event for the Modi government, reported The Washington Post.
Also Read: How Canada Became Hotbed Of Khalistani Movement, Ignoring India's Appeal For Action Over Years
The report also mentioned the events that unfolded on Tuesday when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levied serious allegations against the Indian government of being involved in the killing of its citizen, which India refuted strongly. It highlighted the fractious impact of the incident on the bilateral relations between the two countries as both expelled senior diplomats in retaliation to one another.
"Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," PM Trudeau alleged on Monday.
However, New Delhi promptly rejected the allegations and accused Ottawa of longstanding inaction on the issue of continued Khalistani activities in Canada.
Even though Trudeau tried clarifying the issue later in the evening by emphasizing that Canada is not looking to provoke or escalate the situation, no sign of any softening came from India, which has already rejected its accusations as being 'absurd and motivated' while shifting the focus to the sheltering of Khalistanis in Canada.
"We have seen and rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as well as the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of the Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," read the statement put forth by the Indian side on Tuesday.
According to the report, Indian security agencies had designated Nijjar a terrorist in 2020 after his involvement in supporting attacks in Punjab came to the fore. An extradition request was also lodged with the Canadian government in 2022 after his involvement in the murder of a priest was found.
India had been pushing countries with high Sikh populations like Canada, the United States, Australia, and Britain to take stern action against the Khalistan movement. The growing protests by Pro-Khalistan activists in cities like London and San Francisco have also caused tension in the relations of these countries with India.
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, specified the dilemma faced by Western countries in balancing the path between the ally Canada and India, a key strategic partner. Pointing out the timing of the diplomatic controversy, The Washington Post also noted that the incident happened during a time when the West is looking to strengthen their geopolitical and trade partnership with India while refraining from criticizing PM Modi's authoritarian policies.
The G20 summit in India in September saw tensions rise, as Prime Minister Trudeau was sidelined and denied formal talks with Prime Minister Modi. The Khalistan issue was also discussed, further straining relations. Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly mentioned that Trudeau had raised the allegations with President Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The topic is expected to be discussed at the UN General Assembly, reported The Post.
In response, Washington expressed deep concern, emphasizing the importance of Canada's investigation and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Australia also raised the issue with India at high levels. These allegations surrounding Nijjar's assassination have amplified the ongoing Khalistan supporters' issue in Canada, with potential implications for global geopolitics and foreign interference.
Overall, this situation highlights the delicate balance that Western nations must maintain between their allies and strategic partnerships in a rapidly changing global landscape, as reported by The Washington Post.
