New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters revealed that Canada had provided New Zealand with insights into the criminal inquiry into violence against members of its South Asian community amidst escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada.
“The alleged criminal behavior outlined by Canadian law enforcement authorities, if proven, is deeply troubling,” Mr. Peters remarked in a post on X.
He further added, “However, we refrain from commenting on the specifics of ongoing criminal investigations, both in New Zealand and internationally, except to emphasize the importance of upholding the rule of law and judicial processes.”
This development comes in the wake of Canada accusing India of a “grave misjudgment,” leading to a diplomatic clash over the assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil last year, resulting in reciprocal expulsion of Ambassadors by both nations.
India retaliated by expelling six senior Canadian diplomats, including the acting High Commissioner, and announced the withdrawal of its own envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada’s assertion of expelling the envoy.
Tensions between the two countries have been strained since the previous year, following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim of having evidence linking Indian operatives to the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.
Published – October 15, 2024 06:00 pm IST
