There is room for diplomacy: S Jaishankar on India-Canada diplomatic row
Canada, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday as the ties between the two sides remained strained following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of a «potential» involvement of Indian agents in the killing of a Khalistani separatist. The external affairs minister said both sides have been in touch and hoped that a way would be found to resolve the row. At the same time, he asserted that «sovereignty and sensitivity» cannot be one-way streets.
Jaishankar was speaking at an interactive session at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.
«I feel that there is room for diplomacy here. I know that my counterpart in Canada has also expressed the same position.
So, we have been in touch,» he said.
«My hope certainly would be that we find a way...Sovereignty, sensitivity — these cannot be one-way streets. They may have their concerns.
I have never ever with any country said that I am not willing to talk to them about their legitimate concerns,» he said.
«But it cannot be that the conversation is completely dismissive of my concerns and my sensitivities,» he added.
The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in the Canadian town of Surrey.
Days after Trudeau's allegations, India announced temporarily suspending issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity.
Canada has already withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India.
Jaishankar explained India's overall proposition that he said could apply to Canada as well.
