| 29 September 2023
| Christie Anto
Washington, D.C., USA - In a significant diplomatic move, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged India to cooperate with a Canadian investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar during a high-level meeting with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in Washington on Thursday. The meeting marks a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two nations following the recent G-20 Summit in New Delhi.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously alleged an Indian role in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and he expressed confidence that Blinken would bring up the matter during his discussions with Jaishankar.
"The Americans will certainly discuss this matter with the Indian government," Trudeau asserted earlier in Quebec on Thursday.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Secretary Blinken did indeed raise the Canadian matter during the meeting and urged the Indian government to cooperate fully with Canada's ongoing investigation. However, it's worth noting that the official State Department statement released after the meeting made no explicit mention of Nijjar's murder or Canada as a whole.
The State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller, stated in the official release, "The two top diplomats discussed a full range of issues, including key outcomes of India's G20 presidency and the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and its potential to generate transparent, sustainable, and high-standard infrastructure investments."
While the statement highlights the diverse agenda discussed during the meeting, it conspicuously omits any reference to the pressing issue of the Canadian investigation. This omission leaves room for speculation about the nature and depth of the discussions between Blinken and Jaishankar regarding the murder case.
The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar has been a contentious issue, straining relations between Canada and India. Nijjar, a Sikh activist, was assassinated in 2021 in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Canadian authorities have alleged an Indian connection to the murder, sparking an international dispute.
With Blinken's urging of Indian cooperation in the investigation, the case takes on renewed significance, potentially leading to a more comprehensive resolution to the matter. While the official statement may not provide explicit details, the fact that it was raised at all during the meeting demonstrates the importance of finding a resolution to this longstanding dispute between two nations.
The meeting between Blinken and Jaishankar also underscores the broader diplomatic relationship between the United States and India, emphasizing their cooperation on key global issues, including economic and infrastructure development.
As the investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder continues, the international community will be watching closely to see how India responds to Blinken's call for cooperation, and whether this move will contribute to easing tensions between Canada and India.
Comments