Hours after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau claimed that he was sure that US Secretary of state Antony Blinken would raise Nijjar's murder with India, now it came to light that Blinken chose to remain silent over the Nijjar's killing during his meeting with Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.
It should be noted that India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington DC. This meeting comes amid a simmering dispute between New Delhi and Ottawa.
The US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller while briefing the reporter before the meeting, said that Blinken will try to push India to participate in the Canadian investigation. However, a US State Department statement after Blinken met his Indian counterpart made no mention of Nijjar’s murder or Canada as a whole.
As per the US State Department, Blinken and Jaishankar had “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.”
They also covered “the continued importance of cooperation ahead of the upcoming 2+2 Dialogue, in particular in the areas of defence, space, and clean energy,” Miller said. The G20 refers to the Group of 20 Summit that was recently held in New Delhi and was attended by President Joe Biden. The “2+2” dialogue is a format for meetings between the US and Indian foreign and defence ministers.
Speaking to reporters, Blinken said that he and Jaishankar have had very good discussions at the recently concluded G20 Summit in New Delhi and the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
"Good to be back here (in the US). We of course had Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) here this summer. We thank the US for all the support at the G20 Summit. And I look forward to seeing you (Blinken) in New Delhi," Jaishankar said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was sure US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would raise the murder of a Sikh separatist leader when he met his Indian counterpart on Thursday but a US statement after the meeting made no mention of the issue.
“The Americans have been with us in speaking to the Indian government about how important it is that they be involved in following up on the credible allegations that agents of the Indian government killed a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil,” Trudeau said.
“This is something all democratic countries, all countries that respect the rule, need to take seriously and we are moving forward in a thoughtful, responsible way anchored in the rule of law with all partners, including in our approach with the government of India,” he told reporters in Montreal.
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