WASHINGTON: The United States called on India to take seriously allegations by Canada of an assassination plot, as tensions escalated between the two US partners.
“When it comes to the Canadian matter, we have made clear that the allegations are extremely serious and they need to be taken seriously. And we wanted to see the government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
“Obviously, they have not,” he said. “They have chosen an alternate path.”
When questioned about the status of these allegations, Miller responded, “I will defer to those two countries to speak to the relevant status of the matter.”
However, Miller reassured that the US-India bilateral relationship remain strong, citing multiple areas of collaboration.
“India continues to be an incredibly strong partner of the United States. We’ve worked with them on a number of matters including our shared vision for a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and when we have concerns, we have the kind of relationship where we can take those concerns to them and have very frank, candid conversations about those concerns, and that’s what we’ve been doing,” he said.
Britain joined its Five Eyes intelligence partners in saying India’s cooperation with Canada’s legal process was “the right next step” in the deepening diplomatic row between the two countries, adding that it had full confidence in Canada’s judicial system.
The British Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are in contact with our Canadian partners about the serious developments outlined in the independent investigations in Canada. The UK has full confidence in Canada’s judicial system … The government of India’s cooperation with Canada’s legal process is the right next step.”
New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, suggested he would let the judicial processes unfold, in a statement that did not mention India. “The alleged criminal conduct outlined publicly by Canadian law enforcement authorities, if proven, would be very concerning,” Peters wrote on X, saying Ottawa had highlighted “ongoing criminal investigations into violence and threats of violence against members of its south Asian community”.
Australia’s foreign affairs department said: “Australia has made clear our concerns about the allegations under investigation in Canada, and our respect for Canada’s judicial process. Our position of principle is that the sovereignty of all countries should be respected and that the rule of law should be respected.”
US, UK, urge India to “cooperate” with Canada
