Nijjar killing: Blinken urges India to cooperate with Canada's probe
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New Delhi: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday urged India to cooperate with Canada’s probe into the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
The murder triggered a major diplomatic row between India and Canada.
The ties between the countries came under severe strain after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing.
"We think it is very important that India works with Canada on its investigation, and that they find a way to resolve this difference in a cooperative way," Blinken said at a media briefing following the India-US 2+2 dialogue of defence and foreign ministers in New Delhi.
"But that really does go with Canada moving its investigation forward and India working with Canada on it. And that's something that I've discussed with our Indian counterparts, including today," he said.
"These (India and Canada) are two of our closest friends and partners, and of course, we want to see them resolving any differences or disputes that they have as a friend of both," the US Secretary of State said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said New Delhi conveyed to the US side its serious concerns over increasing activities of pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.
"Insofar as Canada is concerned, we have been having very consistent conversations with all our friends and partners. Our position on this matter has been enunciated and explained in full detail on multiple occasions," Kwatra said.
"The thrust of our conversations with our partners is no different today than it is at any other forum -- it is essentially that we have core security concerns, a recent video surfaced from Pannun which presents a very serious security concern for the Indian interest," Kwatra said.
Days after Trudeau's allegations, India temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity.
Canada has already withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India.
However, India has resumed some of the visa services.
With inputs from PTI