Ottawa: In an effort to resolve a diplomatic dispute surrounding the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly expressed Canada’s desire for “private talks with India.” The dispute has led to strained relations between the two nations, with India reportedly requesting Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats by October 10.
“We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats’ safety very seriously and we will continue to engage privately because we think diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private,” Joly stated, as reported by Reuters.
The dispute stems from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations concerning the Indian government’s potential involvement in Nijjar’s fatal shooting. Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was killed in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on June 18, outside a Gurdwara.
Trudeau claimed that his country’s national security officials had reason to believe that “agents of the Indian government” were responsible for Nijjar’s killing, a statement that India has strongly rejected as “absurd” and “motivated.”
Canada has not provided public evidence to support the allegations and has expressed its willingness to work constructively with India on the matter. Trudeau emphasized that Canada is not seeking to escalate the situation with India and wishes to remain engaged in New Delhi to assist Canadian families.
Despite the dispute, Trudeau affirmed Canada’s commitment to building closer ties with India, citing India’s growing economic power and geopolitical importance. He underscored the need for both countries to collaborate to uncover the full facts of the matter while emphasizing the significance of engaging with India on a global scale.
