US Gave 'Contextual' Intel To Canada On Nijjar Killing: Report
According to report, after Nijjar’s death, US agencies provided “contextual” intel to the Canadian officials, eventually leading them to allege an Indian role in the incident.
New Delhi: Espionage agencies in the US shared information on the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar with the Canadian administration, The New York Times reported, citing Western allied officials. The report claimed that Canada built on the intelligence shared by the US to a point where it could directly accuse India of being involved in the killing.
Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had claimed that there was evidence that Indian “agents” were involved in the killing of Nijjar.
According to The New York Times, after Nijjar’s death, US intelligence agencies provided “context” to the Canadian officials, eventually leading them to allege an Indian role in the incident. The report stated, quoting officials, that internal communications of Indian diplomats that were intercepted seemed to indicate an Indian involvement in the “plot”.
The report said while the US routinely shares intercepted communications with its intelligence partners, the "contextual information" about Nijjar's killing was specifically shared with Canada "as part of a package of various intelligence streams".
Further, according to the report, the revelation of intelligence sharing now risks dragging the US into the ongoing diplomatic spat between India and Canada at a time when Washington is seeking to bolster bilateral ties with New Delhi.
US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged India to extend cooperation to the Canadian authorities in the ongoing investigation into Nijjar’s killing, the report noted, adding that America has “largely avoided” a diplomatic blowback from India.
Quoting officials, The New York Times claimed further in its report that US did not learn of the “plot or evidence” of India’s hand until the separatist leader was shot dead.
As per the report, officials in the White House are reluctant to make public statements about the killing as, in extending assistance to “close ally” Canada, it does not want to alienate India.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian administration haven’t shared any specific input or intelligence that led it to claim an Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing.
However, allied officials did not detail the intelligence shared by US, The New York Times added in its report.
A Canadian government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said his government had received intelligence from “multiple countries”, the report further stated.
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