Raised concerns over Canada with US: EAM

Raised concerns over Canada with US: EAM

- Prashant Jha 

External affairs minister S Jaishankar has conveyed to US secretary of state Antony Blinken and national security advisor Jake Sullivan India's concerns about Canada giving operating space to extremism, terror, trafficking and crime, and a "toxic" combination of issues and people it has permitted due to its domestic politics.

During a discussion at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC on Friday, Jaishankar said that in meetings the previous day, the American side had conveyed its own views on the situation, and hopefully both sides came out of their conversations "better informed on the issue".

He added that America and India view Canada differently based on their own interests.

There was no readout from the American side of his interaction with Sullivan, and the state department readout of the meeting didn't mention discussion on Canada. But state department spokesperson Matthew Miller addressed the issue, urging India to cooperate, shortly before the Jaishankar-Blinken meeting.

And on Friday, Blinken too confirmed that the issue figured in the discussions with his counterpart the previous day. Speaking to reporters, Blinken reiterated that the US was "very concerned about Canada's allegations, it had been in touch with Canada, it had engaged with the Indian government, and Washington had urged Delhi to work with Canada on the investigation, adding he had repeated the call in his meeting with Jaishankar. “Those responsible need to be held accountable and we hope that our friends in both Canada and India will work together to resolve this matter,” Blinken said.

VIEWS EXCHANGED

Jaishankar conveyed to Blinken and NSA Sullivan India's concerns about Canada giving operating space to extremism and terror. He said Delhi has told Canada its charges don't fit in with Indian govt policy.