The United States has accused India of not cooperating with Canada’s investigation into the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, calling the allegations “extremely serious.”
“When it comes to the Canadian matter, we have made clear that the allegations are extremely seriously and they need to be taken seriously. And we wanted to see the government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation.Obviously, they have not chosen that path,” Miller said during a press briefing.
The diplomatic dispute between India and Canada has intensified since Nijjar’s killing outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. India had previously designated Nijjar a terrorist in 2020, accusing him of involvement in extremist activities. New Delhi strongly rejected Ottawa’s allegations and expelled six Canadian diplomats in response.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused India of choosing to use its diplomats and organised crime to attack its citizens and make them feel unsafe on their soil, calling it a “monumental mistake” by New Delhi.
India strongly refuted the charged and accused the Trudeau government of providing space for violent extremists and terrorists to harass and threaten Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada, including death threats to them and Indian leaders. India also claimed that Canada had disregarded multiple extradition requests for terrorists and organized crime leaders living in Canada.
Despite the tensions, Miller affirmed that the US still considers India an important partner, particularly in their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. He noted that the US and India have candid conversations whenever concerns arise, stating, “When we have concerns, we have the kind of relationship where we can take those concerns to them and have frank, candid conversations.”
