EAM raises border issue with China, Khalistan with Canada

External affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar stressed on the safety and security of Indian diplomats in Canada with the country's foreign minister Melanie Joly, amid threats from pro-Khalistan elements, on the margins of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting in Jakarta.

- Anirudh Bhattacharyya

Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to Jakarta from July 13 to 14 for the foreign ministers' meetings under Asean, also met Chinese diplomat Wang Yi and discussed the border issue in the eastern Ladakh sector.

After his second meeting with Joly, Jaishankar tweeted, "Discussed the Indo-Pacific and our economic cooperation. Underlined the importance of ensuring the security of our diplomats. And the need to firmly combat incitement to violence."

A senior Indian official, privy to the details of the meeting, said the discussions were both candid as the security concerns were "conveyed very strongly" and constructive as New Delhi has seen Ottawa taking its concerns seriously and showing great responsiveness those concerns. The Indian side has "zero complaints" about how Canadian law enforcement has responded to the threats from pro-Khalistan elements to its senior-most diplomats and missions in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, the official said requesting anonymity.

In Canada, several incidents involving Khalistani separatists have been reported in the last few months where the activists targeted Indian establishments and diplomats were targeted.