Foreign Secretary Syrus Qazi has stated that Pakistan is not “surprised” by Canada’s allegations that the Indian government was involved in the June assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
“Whatever happened in Canada comes as no surprise to Pakistan,” Qazi stated during a media interview.
Syrus Qazi is accompanying interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar on a five-day tour to the United States to attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly session.
Pakistan, according to the foreign secretary, found nothing odd in the Canadian Prime Minister’s charges because Islamabad had captured a serving Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Yadav — an operator of the Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) from Balochistan in March 2016.
According to Syrus Qazi, India is involved in destabilising Pakistan. “If there is anyone in the world who is aware of Indian [activities], it is us [Pakistan],” he remarked.
According to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, police are “actively pursuing credible allegations” that New Delhi’s operatives were involved in the death of a Sikh separatist leader, a statement India promptly denounced as preposterous.
The quarrel is a further blow to diplomatic ties that have been eroding for years, with further Delhi dissatisfied with Sikh separatist movement in Canada. It is now threatening trade relations as well, with talks on a prospective trade deal halting last week.
