In a contentious exchange, US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, well-known for her critical stance on India in various matters, weighed in on the ongoing India-Canada dispute. She called for full US support for the Canadian investigation into India’s alleged involvement in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In a public statement, Democrat leader Ilhan Omar stated, “We are also requesting a briefing on whether there are similar operations in the United States.”
Reacting to Ilhan Omar’s comments, Indian Member of Parliament Priyanka Chaturvedi offered a strong response. Chaturvedi reminded Ilhan Omar of her visit to Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 2022, and questioned the congresswoman’s actions. Chaturvedi stated, “Sit down Madam Representative. If such is the case, as an Indian Parliamentarian, I urge @MEAIndia to initiate an inquiry into how an elected representative in the USA is interfering in the peace of Jammu & Kashmir via a Pakistan-funded PoK visit.”
It is noteworthy that in 2022, Ilhan Omar visited Pakistan, held meetings with Pakistani leaders Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan, and visited Muzaffarabad in PoK. India criticized her visit as “narrow-minded politics” and revealed that it was sponsored by the Pakistani government, including her accommodations and meals. Ilhan Omar was also among those who boycotted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the US Congress during his historic state visit to the United States.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome recently made a private visit to Gilgit Baltistan in PoK, leading to fresh controversy. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti drew parallels between this visit and American delegates visiting Kashmir during the G20 meetings. He stated, “It’s not my place to react to the US Ambassador in Pakistan, but he’s been there before, and we obviously had part of our delegation in Jammu and Kashmir during G20 as well,” emphasizing the complexities surrounding the matter.
The India-Canada dispute was triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations that India played a role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June. India vehemently denied this charge, asserting that no specific information was shared by the Canadian government regarding Nijjar’s killing. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, reiterated that this is not India’s policy stance. Despite the ongoing tensions, India maintained its commitment to cooperation with any probe initiated by Canada, should it be required.
