The White House has expressed that the Canadian allegations concerning India’s involvement in the killing of a pro-Khalistan leader should be thoroughly investigated. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. In 2020, India had declared Nijjar a terrorist.
During a recent meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the claims made by Canada were discussed. John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, stated in a news conference that the issue was brought up and that the respective countries should discuss their bilateral relationship.
Kirby added, “We’ve been clear, these allegations are serious, they need to be fully investigated and of course, as we’ve said before, we urge India to participate actively in that investigation.” Vedant Patel, State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson, emphasized the importance of Canada’s investigation proceeding and the perpetrators being brought to justice. He also mentioned that the US has observed the reports on the diplomatic staffing levels for the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, but refrained from commenting further.
Patel highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the US and India, particularly within the Quad partnership, and reiterated the seriousness with which they take these allegations. He stated, “We continue to not just work closely with our Canadian partners but have publicly and privately urged the Indian government to cooperate with Canada.”
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