US Urges India to Seriously Address Canada Allegations Amid Enquiry Committee Formation

The United States waded into the diplomatic spat between Canada and India on Tuesday. It urged India to take Canada’s allegations of an assassination plot seriously. The US pointed to India’s formation of an Enquiry Committee to investigate similar accusations on US soil. This move indicates that officials must address such concerns promptly.

Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesman, told reporters that they have made it clear that the allegations regarding the Canadian matter are extremely serious and require serious attention.

“We wanted to see the government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation,” he added. “Obviously, they have not; they have chosen an alternate path.”

India and Canada are key partners of the United States. However, both countries expelled each other’s ambassadors and other diplomats on Monday. This action occurred after Canada accused Indian government agents of participating in a violent campaign against Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.

Ottawa specifically charged New Delhi with involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. Nijjar was an India-born advocate for an independent Sikh state who had immigrated to Canada and become a citizen.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said India had made a “fundamental error.”

Also See: India and Canada see no impact on trade ties from diplomatic spat

Does the United States share Canada’s concerns?

The US wants India to take the matter “seriously.” This request arises from similar allegations made by Washington about an unsuccessful assassination plot by India on US soil in November 2023.

An Indian “Enquiry Committee” formed in response to the US allegations visited Washington on Tuesday. The State Department provided this information to the public.

India “has informed the United States they are continuing their efforts to investigate other linkages of the former government employee and will determine follow up steps, as necessary,” the State Department said.

“The fact that they sent an Enquiry Committee here, I think, demonstrates that they are taking this seriously,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Affect on Canada-India Trade

Meanwhile, despite the tensions, Canadian and Indian government officials have said that there has been no immediate negative impact on bilateral trade ties.

“I want to reassure our business community that our government remains fully committed to supporting the well-established commercial ties between Canada and India,” Canadian trade minister Mary Ng said in a statement late on Monday.

“We will work closely with all Canadian enterprises engaged with India to ensure these important economic connections remain strong.”

Canada primarily exports minerals, pulses, potash, industrial chemicals, and gemstones to India. In contrast, goods such as pharmaceuticals, marine products, electronic equipment, pearls, and precious stones flow in the other direction.

But an Indian government source told the Reuters news agency: “We are not immediately concerned about trade ties. Our bilateral trade with Canada is not very large.”

Bilateral trade between India and Canada amounted to $8.4 billion (€7.7 billion) at the end of the last fiscal year on March 31. According to India’s trade ministry, this figure represents a marginal increase compared to the previous year.

India’s foreign ministry reports that more than 600 Canadian companies operate in India. These companies are involved in various sectors, including IT, banking, and financial services.

mf/msh (Reuters, AFP)

This news is sourced from DW and is intended for informational purposes only.