London: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed his hope for a reduction in tensions in the ongoing India-Canada diplomatic dispute. During a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the two leaders discussed the standoff concerning the killing of a Khalistani terrorist in June.
According to a statement from Downing Street, Prime Minister Sunak and Prime Minister Trudeau spoke on Friday evening, during which Mr. Sunak was briefed on the situation involving Canadian diplomats in India. Both leaders concurred on the importance of adhering to the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which include respecting sovereignty and the rule of law. Prime Minister Sunak expressed his desire to see a de-escalation of the situation and committed to maintaining communication with Prime Minister Trudeau regarding the next steps.
This conversation follows Prime Minister Trudeau’s statement in the Canadian Parliament last month, in which he asserted that Canadian security forces were actively pursuing credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force, in British Columbia in June. India vehemently rejected these allegations as absurd and motivated.
The fallout from this diplomatic row also impacted the UK when Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami was prevented from visiting a Glasgow Gurdwara in Scotland by pro-Khalistan extremists last week.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India has been coordinating with its mission in Ottawa and consulates in other Canadian cities to address safety concerns. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi emphasized that the issue revolves around security and that Indian diplomats are safe, with the community not being targeted.
