During the diplomatic turmoil between the two nations, it is reported that the Canadian Foreign Minister clandestinely convened with her Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, in Washington recently.
Melanie Joly, the Canadian Foreign Minister, reportedly held a clandestine meeting in Washington with India’s Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, a few days ago. This meeting occurred amidst the diplomatic standoff between the two nations. The dispute centers on Canada’s allegation of India’s involvement in killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, as reported by the British newspaper Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the situation.
It’s important to note that neither the Canadian nor Indian foreign ministries have officially confirmed the occurrence of this meeting.
The same report disclosed that the Canadian government is actively seeking to alleviate the strained diplomatic situation with New Delhi. This comes in the imprint of reports suggesting that Canadian diplomats were issued a deadline to depart India, potentially jeopardizing their diplomatic immunity.
Also Read: India-Canada News: Toronto University promises to take care of students’ safety after Nijjar incident
In an earlier statement this month, the Canadian Foreign Minister emphasized their efforts to resolve the matter through private channels. She stated, “We are in contact with the government of India. We take the safety of Canadian diplomats very seriously, and we will continue to engage privately because we believe diplomatic discussions are most effective when conducted discreetly.” This statement followed New Delhi’s directive to reduce the number of diplomatic staff stationed in India.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also affirmed his country’s commitment to avoid escalating tensions with India. He expressed that Canada intends to maintain a responsible and constructive engagement with New Delhi.
Recent reporting by Canada’s CTV News revealed that around 30 diplomatic staff members from Canada have been relocated from India to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
The relationship between India and Canada deteriorated significantly after Prime Minister Trudeau’s allegations on September 19, suggesting a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Notably, Nijjar was a Canadian citizen who was fatally shot by two masked assailants on June 18.
India vehemently denied these allegations, categorizing them as “absurd” and “motivated.” In response to Canada’s expulsion of an Indian official, New Delhi took reciprocal action by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat. Furthermore, New Delhi urged Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic staff to achieve a balance in diplomatic presence, citing Canada’s “higher diplomatic presence” in India.
News Source by India Today
