The US refuses to oblige Trudeau after Jaishankar, Blinken speak

In a setback to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the United States is unwilling to continue to wade into the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada.

- T. BRAJESH

Washington also shares New Delhi's concerns about "the Indian diplomatic mission working amidst a climate of violence and an atmosphere of intimidation" in Canada. "After External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar's meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NSA Jake Sullivan in Washington, the Biden administration is 'convinced' that Ottawa could not share any credible evidence with New Delhi to substantiate Trudeau's claims of India's hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Harjit Singh Nijjar," a diplomatic source told The Sunday Guardian.

"In fact, Jaishankar, during the talks explained India's position on developments in Canada quite convincingly and logically based on facts and figures. As a result, Blinken and the US NSA emerged from the meeting fully satisfied," a source privy to the meetings in Washington told this newspaper. The tone and tenor of Blinken's statement was completely changed even as he came out of the meeting. Talking to reporters, Blinken said, "The Canada row was discussed during a meeting with EAM 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." Notably, Blinken refrained from reiterating that "India should cooperate with the Canadian investigation". This is the statement that Blinken has been making ever since the India-Canada diplomatic row erupted.