'Have Come To Improve Ties': Canadian Dy Army Chief Amid Diplomatic Row With India Over Nijjar Killing
Canada's Deputy Army Chief Major General Peter Scott, in an exclusive interview with ABP News, said leaders of both the nations were talking on the dispute and it would be resolved.
Canada's Deputy Army Chief Major General Peter Scott, who is in New Delhi to attend the 'Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference' (IPACC), said he had come to improve the relationship between India and Canada. The ties between India and Canada took a hit after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were "credible reasons" to believe Indian government agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In an exclusive interview owth ABP News, Deputy Army Chief Scott said that both nations were discussing the issue at the diplomatic level. When asked whether the row over Nijjar's killing would affect the relationship between India and Canada, Scott said leaders of both the nations were talking on the dispute and it would be resolved.
WATCH | भारत-कनाडा के सेना प्रमुखों के बीच उठा आतंकी निज्जर की हत्या का मुद्दा@AshishSinghNews के साथ कनाडा के डिप्टी आर्मी चीफ का EXCLUSIVE इंटरव्यू@vivekstake | @rajendradev6 | @ashishsinghLive | https://t.co/smwhXUROiK#IndiaCanadaTension #Khalistan #HardeepSinghNijjar pic.twitter.com/CLRChqMMkB
— ABP News (@ABPNews) September 26, 2023
"I am here to build better relationships. I expressed the same opinion in my conversation with the Indian Army Chief. This is not a matter between the armies of the two countries. We are looking at opportunities on which Indian and Canadian armies can work together," Scott told ABP News.
Major General Scott met Indian Army Chief Manoj Pande earlier in the day and had a brief discussion with him. On his discussions with Indian Army Chief Manoj Pande on the issue, the Deputy Army Chief of Canada said, "We agreed that the existing dispute will be resolved by the leaders of both the countries. The Army will only talk about increasing mutual cooperation."
The Canadian Army official said he was in the national capital to build relationship on the army-to-army level. He also said he was looking towards better cooperation between India and Canada on the Indo-Pacific region.
"I am aware of the statement given in Parliament by our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Prime Minister of Canada has said that India should cooperate in the investigation. But, that has no impact on us here at the Indo-Pacific conference. We're here to build ties between the armies and we'll let our governments deal with that issue," he told ABP News.
Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
Canada-based Khalistan sympathiser Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in the parking lot of Surrey Gurdwara Sahib in Brampton back in June. As per reports, he had been involved in anti-India activities for a long time and he had also organised a separatist referendum in Brampton. He was the president of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey City. Nijjar was associated with the separatist organisation, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Notably, SFJ is banned in India.
The Government of India had declared Nijjar as a terrorist and he was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Many cases against him were pending in India.
Trending News
Top Headlines
