Deeply concerned about allegations raised by PM Trudeau against India: Antony Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that America is “deeply concerned” about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of India’s link to the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Speaking at a press conference in New York on Friday, Blinken said the US has engaged directly with the Indian government on the issue and the most productive thing would be the completion of this investigation.

Relations between India and Canada have hit rock bottom after Trudeau alleged that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Responding to a question on Trudeau’s allegations against India, Blinken said, “Let me say a few things about this. First, we are deeply concerned about the allegations that Prime Minister Trudeau has raised.”

“We have been consulting throughout very closely with our Canadian colleagues, and not just consulting, coordinating with them on this issue. And from our perspective, it is critical that the Canadian investigation proceeds and it would be important that India work with the Canadians on this investigation. We want to see accountability and it’s important that the investigation runs its course and leads to that result,” he added.

#WATCH | On the India-Canada row, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says “We are deeply concerned about the allegations that Canadian PM Trudeau has raised. We have been consulting very closely with our Canadian colleagues, and coordinating with them on this issue. From our… pic.twitter.com/jQA4ctG71v

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2023

When asked about reports that suggest that US President Joe Biden “personally” raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Blinken said, “I’m not going to characterise or otherwise speak to diplomatic conversations that we have.”

“We’ve been engaged directly with the Indian government as well. And again, I think the most productive thing that can happen now is to see this investigation move forward (and) be completed. And we would hope that our Indian friends would cooperate with that investigation as well,” he added.

Meanwhile, the White House, similarly, has said that the US administration is “deeply concerned” by the allegations levelled by the Canadian government.

#WATCH | On the India-Canada row, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre says “…We are deeply concerned…We remain in regular contact with the Canadian government and Canadian partners…We have engaged with the Indian government. But, certainly, we’re not going to get… pic.twitter.com/ipuPb6qj9T

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2023

hile Canada hasn’t yet provided any public evidence to back its claims, a media report citing Canadian government sources said that Ottawa’s allegations are based on both human and signals intelligence and inputs from an ally the Five Eye intelligence network.

With inputs from PTI