The Biden administration on Tuesday urged India to take seriously Canada's claims about a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and cooperate with Canadian investigators.
canada and india exiled Six diplomats from each side met on Monday as tensions over the issue intensified.
“When it comes to Canada, we have made clear that the allegations are very serious and need to be taken seriously,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. said on tuesday.
“We were hoping that the Indian government would cooperate with the Canadian investigation. Obviously, that's not the case. They chose a different path,” Miller said.
State Department said On Monday, representatives from the Indian Commission of Inquiry announced they had visited Washington, D.C., as part of an “ongoing investigation” into another assassination plot in which an Indian national was killed. Paid About an attempt to hire an assassin to kill a Sikh separatist leader in New York City.
Miller did not provide further details about Monday's meeting with the Indian delegation, other than to say it was a “follow-up of conversations we have had at the most senior levels of the Indian government over the past few months.” He claimed that the Washington talks had been planned long before the recent diplomatic spat between Canada and India erupted.
White House National Security Council Press Secretary John Kirby said of India's involvement with the US: “The fact that they sent a commission here shows that they are taking this issue seriously.'' I think it shows.”
Canada accused the Indian government of assassinating Nijjar outside a Vancouver temple in September 2023. Mr. Nijjar was a prominent leader of the Khalistan movement, which was dedicated to creating a Sikh state independent of Indian territory.
The Indian government views the Khalistan movement as a security threat with links to organized crime and terrorism, and is angry that Canada is providing a safe haven for Sikh separatists. Nijjar is specified In 2020, he was declared a terrorist by the Indian government.
India also complains that Canada's claims of state involvement in Nijjar's murder were made without convincing evidence.
Written by American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Senior Fellow Michael Rubin in Tuesday's Firstpost proposed The next escalation could be for India to label Canada a state sponsor of terrorism for supporting the Khalistan movement.
Mr. Rubin claimed that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau misrepresented information provided by the United States as solid evidence that India commissioned Mr. Nijjar's murder, calling it a “gangland hit” rather than a state-sponsored assassination. He said it was close to “. He also accused the Trudeau government of confusing Sikhism with the extremist Khalistan movement.
“Perhaps Prime Minister Trudeau believed that the volume and frequency of accusations outweighed the truth. He also believed that doubling down on support for Sikh extremists could win them votes in key constituencies. Maybe he believes that. He's wrong on both counts,” Rubin said.
Broadcast on Wednesday on NDTV in India disrespected He expressed support for the Biden administration's Canada in foreign affairs, rating the US government as more “cautious” and “restrained” than the Canadians.
NDTV noted that the US State Department was “stressing the need for cooperation between the two countries” rather than casting blame. public accusation It's murder, just like Prime Minister Trudeau did.
of indian era (TOI) was pleased. report On Wednesday, backbencher Sean Casey became the first member of the Liberal Party of Canada to publicly call for Prime Minister Trudeau to resign. Liberals are on the rise reportedly Although he has pressured Prime Minister Trudeau behind the scenes to resign, Casey is the first to publicly voice his demand.
“The timing of Mr. Casey's comments comes as Prime Minister Trudeau faces pressure from anti-government forces amid strained relations with India.” Toi he pointed out.
