Important That Investigation Run Its Course: Anthony Blinken On India-Canada Diplomatic Row

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday (22 September) expressed deep concern over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations against India on the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June.

He emphasised the need for accountability and stated that the United States wants to see the incident thoroughly investigated.

Earlier this week, Trudeau had claimed in the Canadian Parliament that the security agencies had reasons to believe that "agents of government of India" were involved in Nijjar's killing.

However, India rejected the allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated".

During a press briefing in New York, Blinken said, "It would be important that India work with the Canadians on this investigation".

“We want to see accountability and it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result," Blinken said.

“I think the most productive thing that can happen now is to see this investigation move forward, be completed,” he said.

"We would hope that our Indian friends would cooperate with that investigation as well," Blinken added.

The US Secretary of State also added that the United States was not just consulting with the Canadians but cooperating with them in the investigation.

When asked about the nature of US engagement with India on the matter, Blinken declined to provide specific details.

However, he did mention that the US government has been directly engaging with the Indian government regarding this issue.

Blinken, without commenting directly on the substance of the allegations, said that the United States took "very, very seriously" incidents of "transnational repression."

"I think it's important, more broadly, for the international system that any country that might consider engaging in such acts not do so," he said.