New Delhi
In what has come as a diplomatic triumph for India, New Delhi’s fact and evidence-based strong narrative against Canada’s “politically driven” controversial claims has met with the approval of a significant part of the global community. Top leaders and ministers from various countries including Quad member states Japan and Australia and some European nations who were in New York to attend the 78th session of the UNGA share India’s concern about how Canada has turned into “a safe haven for terrorists”. They were convinced as India flagged inaction by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
While explaining India’s perspective on Canada’s baseless allegations during bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Quad member nations and other countries, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shared credible information and inputs with the ministers on how Canada has not been able to rein in terror elements on its soil. “The ministers were told that Ottawa did not take any action against Khalistani terrorists despite New Delhi sharing clinching and solid evidence with it,” a source privy to meetings in New York told The Sunday Guardian. Sources said Jaishankar also conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message that there should be no leniency in the fight against terrorism no matter in which part of the globe the menace exists. “The terror organisations and the countries protecting them should be dealt with strictly,” was the message from the Indian leadership, sources said.
“The global community must match rhetoric with action against terrorism—be it in Pakistan, Canada or any part of the world,” a source said, referring to Jaishankar’s conversation with Quad Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the UNGA session in New York. A Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting was also held following which a joint statement was released.
It is important to note that before leaving for New York, Jaishankar had met with PM Modi amidst the diplomatic row over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Sources said that PM Modi wants the Indian side to continue to be tough on Canada. He also wanted the strong message on terrorism to be conveyed to the world community which Jaishankar did, sources added.
Jaishankar held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Japan and Australia and during the exercise explained India’s perspective on the row with Canada. He also met with UK MoS for Foreign Affairs Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon.
In what came as a setback for Canada’s plan, Japan and Australia agreed not to even touch upon the Nijjar’s killing issue on the Quad platform. The Japanese and Australian Foreign Ministers clearly said that Quad was not the platform to discuss this issue, sources told The Sunday Guardian.
Jaishankar also met with the Foreign Ministers of Brazil and South Africa as the IBSA meeting took place on the margins of the UNGA session. Jaishankar also held talks with Foreign Minister of Bahrain. Sources said that all the ministers disapproved of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s statement in which he had linked Indian government agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar.
According to informed sources, Jaishankar stressed the need for the Quad nations to fulfill the commitment to countering the terror financing networks and safe havens. All members must strictly follow the commitment to combat terrorism in any form and manifestation. This clause finds place in the joint declaration of statement that is released after the Quad meeting. “This was the message for Quad countries including the US,” sources said. The joint statement issued after the Quad FMs’ meeting in New York categorically said, “We are committed to countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including preventing the international and cross border movement of terrorists, and countering terror finance networks and safe havens. We stressed the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach to effectively curb terrorist activities through the whole nation and the international community efforts.”
“The Indian side also reminded US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the US-India statement released during PM Modi’s maiden State visit to the US in June, asking the FATF to further tighten its anti-money laundering and terrorism financing standards to combat the menace. India wants the US to mount pressure on FATF to be strict in its monitoring of terror financing like the one which is going on in Canada, sources said. What the US cannot remain oblivious to is the fact that Canada shares a 9,000 km long border with it and growing Khalistani terror should be a cause of concern for it too, officials said. With this being the case, the Joe Biden administration should build pressure on Justin Trudeau to rein in terrorists on the territory under his control, officials said.
“The Indian side gave this message to Blinken in New York,” a
source said.