India open to sharing information with Canada on Nijjar murder, but refuses to answer 'yes' or 'no' questions

S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, stated on Tuesday that Canada was welcome to share any specific and pertinent information with India. However, he refused to be pressured into answering "yes" or "no" to the question of whether Ottawa had shared the allegedly intercepted communications involving Indian diplomats.

Jaishankar was responding to queries over the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada during an interactive session of the Washington-based think tank Council on Foreign Relations with former US ambassador to India Ken Juster serving as the moderator.

Since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in the House of Commons a week ago that there appeared to be an Indian hand in the murder of Nijjar in June, bilateral relations have been on the decline. The normally outspoken minister had not commented on the controversy until Tuesday.

The India-Canada dispute, which has several Western nations, including the US, tangled up in it, came up again when the minister was questioned during the hour-long session. He responded, "I have said that if somebody gives us specific or relevant information, we are prepared to look at it," in response to a specific query about whether Canada had shared with him the allegedly intercepted communications involving Indian diplomats. He maintained that India would consider any relevant information.

When the reporter again questioned him about the intercepted communications, Jaishankar retorted, "If I had, would I not be looking at it?"

The journalist persisted and added, "I'm asking you if 'yes' or 'no'."

Juster intervened, claiming that the minister had already spoken.

Jaishankar also refrained from commenting on the US ambassador to Canada's assertion that Trudeau's claims were supported by data shared among the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand's Five Eyes intelligence partnership. The FBI reportedly alerted Sikh activists to genuine threats against their life after Nijjar's murder, according to a report from California.

Juster himself brought up Canada first, asking the minister whether he had any thoughts on Trudeau's claims that the Indian government was involved in the murder of Nijjar and whether it would collaborate if given specific information.

The minister responded to a query about collaborating with the investigation by saying, "If anybody brings me something specific, doesn't have to be restricted to Canada, but if there's any incidence that's a concern and somebody gives me something specific as a government I would look at it. Naturally, I would examine it.

Jaishankar responded to the accusation directly, saying, "I will convey with you very clearly what we informed the Canadians. First, we informed the Canadians that this was not the policy of the Indian government. Second, we instructed the Canadians to let us know if they had any particular and pertinent information. We are willing to examine it.

He continued by supplying context, stating that it was necessary to complete the image. "You also need to recognize that over the past several years, Canada has really witnessed a lot of organized crime related to secessionist groups, organized crime, violence, and extremism — they are all quite intricately entwined. In actuality, we have been discussing details and data. In fact, we have been pressuring the Canadians and have given them a lot of information on the leadership of organized crime that is based in Canada. There are numerous requests for extradition. Leaders of the terrorist organization have been identified.

"Do keep in mind that there is a world outside. If you want to comprehend what is happening in the world, it is vital in a manner to take that into consideration. Our worry is that due to political factors, it has actually been very permissive. As it stands, our diplomats are under threat, and our consulates have been attacked.