Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken a firm stance in the ongoing diplomatic crisis between Canada and India, asserting that the only resolution lies in a transformation of the Indian government's and intelligence agencies' operations.
This comes after Ottawa accused the Indian government of potential involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil, leading to a deterioration in India-Canada relations.
In an exclusive interview with The New York Times, Trudeau emphasized the need for "a series of lessons learned and changes made to the way the Indian government and the intelligence services operate" as the path to resolving the crisis. He further called for the arrest and conviction of those allegedly involved in the crime.
The diplomatic rift reached new depths when Canada accused the Indian government of potential links to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force, a designated terrorist outfit in India.
Nijjar was shot dead in a gurdwara parking lot near Vancouver on June 18. India swiftly dismissed Trudeau's claims as "motivated" and urged Canada to take legal action against "anti-Indian elements" operating within its borders.
In response to these allegations, India expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move after Canada had earlier expelled an official from the Indian foreign intelligence service. India also indefinitely suspended visa services in Canada, citing security threats to its officials and expressing concern about Canada's growing reputation as a "safe haven" for terrorists, extremists, and organized crime figures.
Trudeau, undeterred by the diplomatic tensions, reiterated his call for India's cooperation in the investigation. He acknowledged India's importance as a growing nation and expressed his government's desire to continue working with New Delhi.
The United States Ambassador to Canada, David Cohen, confirmed that information shared by members of the intelligence-sharing alliance known as the "Five Eyes" had informed Trudeau's statements regarding the potential involvement of the Indian government in Nijjar's killing. The Five Eyes alliance comprises the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.