NEW DELHI – Despite PM Stephen Harper flatly telling India that he cannot do anything against Sikhs propagating peacefully for a Sikh homeland in India called Khalistan, Indian officials continue to push their case against so-called “Khalistan Radical.”
During Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird’s visit this week to New Delhi, Indian officials again flagged the issue of alleged misuse of Canadian soil by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird co-chaired the dialogue, the first engagement between Ottawa and New Delhi after the Narendra Modi government assumed office in May.
Briefing the media on the discussions, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said Canada acknowledged India’s concern over possible misuse of Canadian soil by radicals [pro-Khalistani] in that country against India.
The Canadian Foreign Minister recounted that as a young man, the 1985 Kanishka Air India aircraft bombing deeply affected him since some of those killed were his classmates/neighbours. Canada, he said, had come a long way since and that counter-terrorism was an important part of the bilateral relationship.
The spokesperson said the issue of radicals misusing the Canadian soil did figure during the periodic meetings between the Deputy National Security Advisers where information was shared on actions that New Delhi considered were detrimental to its interest. Over the past few years, India has been raising the issue during bilateral meetings both here and in Canada.
Considering that India’s energy requirements continue to grow and New Delhi seeking to acquire it from various sources, including Canada, which is a major source, said it is the process of ramping up production of hydrocarbons to touch 7 million barrels a day by 2020. Ottawa said it would develop outlet on its eastern coast that would make it easier for off-take by New Delhi.
On nuclear energy, both the Ministers indicated they were satisfied with the commercial discussions which were proceeding between CAMECO of Canada and the Department of Atomic Energy of India, for sourcing Uranium.
They also felt that for research and development, cooperation could also be pursued. Both the Foreign Ministers welcomed the Nuclear Security Workshop that was going to be held in New Delhi as a joint India-Canada effort.
