Jaishankar Meets Blinken Amid India-Canada Diplomatic Row:
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties, all while a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada regarding the killing of a Khalistani separatist looms in the background.
During the meeting, Jaishankar expressed his gratitude to the US for their support during the G20 Summit, emphasizing the importance of the strong relationship between the two nations. Blinken acknowledged having had productive discussions with Jaishankar in recent weeks, particularly at events like the G20 and the UN General Assembly session in New York. He looked forward to further discussions with his Indian counterpart.
However, both leaders refrained from taking questions from the media during the meeting.
Even though both sides have remained silent about the meeting’s specific agenda, it is widely expected that the ongoing diplomatic dispute between India and Canada will be a prominent topic of discussion during the talks.
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller declined to reveal details of what Secretary Blinken would discuss during the meeting, emphasizing the need for direct communication between the two counterparts. However, he stressed that the US has consistently engaged with the Indian Government on this matter and urged cooperation. This engagement and encouragement for cooperation will continue.
Miller also refrained from commenting on intelligence matters.
While the meeting between the top diplomats was scheduled prior to the Canadian crisis, the US has been urging India to cooperate with the Canadian investigation into the killing of Earlier this year, in British Columbia, there was an incident involving Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused the Indian government of being responsible for Nijjar’s killing on June 18. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020, but it has strongly denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless and driven by ulterior motives.
S Jaishankar, who arrived in Washington DC from New York after addressing the 78th General Assembly session of the United Nations on Tuesday, began his visit by meeting US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. During their meeting, they discussed the significant progress in bilateral relations between the two countries this year and explored avenues for further advancement.
The External Affairs Minister also had a meeting with US Trade Representative Katherine Tie to delve into the burgeoning economic ties between Washington and New Delhi. The discussions revolved around the expanding trade and economic relationship and its broader implications.
Throughout his stay in Washington, Minister Jaishankar is expected to hold a series of meetings with senior officials of the Biden administration. These meetings will involve a review of the progress achieved between the two nations following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic State Visit in June. Additionally, regional and global issues will be on the agenda for discussion.
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