10-11-2023 : During the ‘2+2’ dialogue between India and the United States, India conveyed serious concerns over the increasing activities of pro-Khalistani elements in Canada. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra emphasized that India has made its concerns very clear during the meeting, particularly regarding the rise of such elements in Canada. The dialogue, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin from the U.S. side, along with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from the Indian side, covered various areas, including the expansion of the global strategic partnership, defense production, technology, and discussions on regional issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict and China’s military activities in the Indo-Pacific.
Tensions between India and Canada escalated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response, India temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and requested Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country. The ongoing dialogue also addressed geopolitical challenges arising from the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Palestine conflict, and tensions in the Arab world.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described the talks as “substantive,” covering various aspects of the strategic partnership, defense ties, space and technology cooperation, logistics collaboration, and people-to-people contacts. The discussions also touched upon the Indo-Pacific, South Asia, West Asia, and the conflict in Ukraine. Secretary Blinken highlighted the robust partnership between the U.S. and India, emphasizing collaboration in international peace, security, and the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific through initiatives like the Quad with Japan and Australia.