After Ottawa accused New Delhi of participation in the killing of a Khalistani terrorist, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on India on Friday to cooperate with Canada and ensure “accountability” in the case.
Blinken stated that the US has been in contact with both India, with which it is warming relations, and Canada, a key ally that expelled an Indian envoy earlier this week.
“We want to see accountability. And it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result,” Blinken told reporters in New York, where he was attending the United Nations General Assembly.
“We would hope that our Indian friends would cooperate with that investigation as well,” Blinken said.
Without directly commenting on the charges, Blinken stated without commenting directly on the substance of the allegations, that the US took “very, very seriously” occurrences of “transnational repression.”
“I think it’s important, more broadly, for the international system that any country that might consider engaging in such acts not do so,” he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged on Monday that Indian operatives were involved in the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver.
On Thursday, Trudeau urged India to participate in the inquiry.
Nijjar was sought in India for alleged terrorist and killing conspiracies. In the 1980s, he was a member of the Khalistan movement, which advocated for a separate Sikh nation, and was defeated by Indian security forces.
India has retaliated against Canada by cutting diplomatic staff and suspending visa services.
