US President Joe Biden and other Western leaders expressed concerns to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Canadian claims of New Delhi-linked agents being involved in a case at the G20 Summit earlier this month, as reported by The Financial Times.
The Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, which includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, brought up the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar with Modi, according to the FT.
Biden reportedly felt it was crucial to address the issue directly with Modi, with the White House neither confirming nor denying the discussion at the G20. Canadian allies urged leaders to bring up the case with Modi, as per the FT report.
While there was no official response from New Delhi, the readouts of the meeting between Biden and Modi did not mention the conversation.
Biden expressed interest in running for re-election in 2024 during their meeting, as mentioned by US Ambassador Eric Garcetti last Wednesday.
Before the G20 summit began, Modi and Biden discussed various topics flagged in June, covering areas from space research to tech and nuclear reactors.
The joint statement focused solely on the bilateral agenda, unlike the previous statement, omitting regional and global issues. The leaders emphasized the importance of shared values and partnership.
Canadian PM Trudeau informed Parliament about security agencies pursuing allegations of Indian government agents’ involvement in Nijjar’s killing, sparking a diplomatic standoff.
New Delhi denied the allegations, criticizing Ottawa for not acting against separatists and offered to cooperate if provided specific information.
The US provided intelligence to Canada after Nijjar’s killing, leading to accusations against India. US officials urged cooperation from both sides to resolve the issue.
The US has become an intermediary between Delhi and Ottawa, with backchannel talks being explored through Washington DC for potential resolution.
