LAHORE (Dunya News) - US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller has said allegations leveled by the Canadian government against India are extremely serious.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year that there were credible allegations that the Indian government had links to the June 2023 assassination in Canada of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Holding a press briefing, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, “When it comes to the Canadian matter, we have made clear that the allegations are extremely seriously – serious, and they need to be taken seriously.
“And we wanted to see the Government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation. Obviously, they have not chosen that path.”
Earlier, Canada and India each expelled six diplomats in tit-for-tat moves as part of an escalating dispute over the June 2023 assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada.
A senior Canadian government official said that Canada was expelling six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, after police uncovered evidence of ongoing violent criminal activity linked to the Indian government.
Shortly afterward, the Indian foreign ministry said it was expelling six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner and the deputy high commissioner.
It said in a statement that the diplomats were told to leave India by the end of Saturday.
The ministry had said earlier Monday that India was withdrawing its diplomats, after rejecting Canada’s diplomatic communication on Sunday that said the Indian ambassador was a “person of interest” in the assassination.
A second senior Canadian official said that Canada expelled the Indian diplomats first before they withdrew. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter.