Blinken meets Jaishankar on US-India ties, but no discussion on Nijjar standoff

Secretary of State Antony J Blinken with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Washington. (Image courtesy: @DrSJaishankar)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed a host of issues with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Washington DC on September 28, according to a readout of the meeting by US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller. There was, however, no specific mention of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of a potential link between the Indian government and the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Trudeau had earlier said that he was sure Blinken would raise the issue of the murder of the Sikh separatist leader when he would meet his Indian counterpart on Thursday. But the US statement, after the meeting, made no mention of the issue.

Trudeau's statement of surety came 10 days after he announced Canada suspected the Indian government agents were linked to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which took place in the province of British Columbia on June 18. Nijjar was a Canadian citizen but India had declared him a "terrorist." He supported the cause of Khalistan, or an independent homeland for Sikhs to be carved out of India.

Also Read | India-Canada row: Who killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar?

The key issues discussed between Blinken and Jaishankar in Washington, DC on September 28 included the outcomes of India’s G20 presidency, the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and its potential to generate transparent, sustainable, and high-standard infrastructure investments, the US State Department spokesman said.

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“The secretary and the external affairs minister also emphasised the continued importance of cooperation ahead of the upcoming 2+2 Dialogue, in particular in the areas of defense, space, and clean energy,” the spokesperson said.

“Great to meet my friend US Secretary of State @SecBlinken at State Department today. A wide ranging discussion, following up on PM @narendramodi’s June visit. Also exchanged notes on global developments. Laid the groundwork of our 2+2 meeting very soon,” Jaishankar tweeted early on Friday Indian time.

Great to meet my friend US Secretary of State @SecBlinken at State Department today.

A wide ranging discussion, following up on PM @narendramodi’s June visit. Also exchanged notes on global developments. Laid the groundwork of our 2+2 meeting very soon. pic.twitter.com/mOw9SIX1dO — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 28, 2023

“Thank you to Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar for hosting @POTUS earlier this month. We discussed India’s successful G20 presidency, creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and the upcoming #USIndia 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi,” Blinken wrote in response. 

Thank you to Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar for hosting @POTUS earlier this month. We discussed India’s successful G20 presidency, creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and the upcoming #USIndia 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi. — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 29, 2023

Miller declined to comment on the specific topics discussed during the meeting between the two leaders but assured that the US has urged India to cooperate with Canada's investigation into Nijjar's killing.

"I don't want to preview the conversations he (Blinken) will have in that meeting (with Mr Jaishankar), but as we have made clear, we have raised this; we have engaged with our Indian counterparts on this and encouraged them to cooperate with the Canadian investigation, and we continue to encourage them to cooperate," Miller said.

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Speaking at the Council for Foreign Relations in New York on September 26, Jaishankar reiterated India's stance on the allegations levelled by Canada, emphasising that India does not engage in such acts as a matter of policy and principle.

Though India has categorically rejected Canada's allegations, calling them "baseless," Jaishankar has assured Canada that India will investigate the matter if it is provided with specific information about Nijjar's killing.

In a press conference on September 28 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada remains committed to building closer ties with India, despite "credible allegations" of the involvement of the Indian government in the killing of Khalistani separatist Nijjar, Canada-based National Post reported. Trudeau's recent remarks reflect the acknowledgement of India's growing influence on the global stage and emphasise the importance of maintaining diplomatic engagement and relations with India.