"I am not part of The Five Eyes, FBI...": S Jaishankar On Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing Intel

New Delhi: Against the backdrop of the ongoing diplomatic dispute surrounding the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar , India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar , has voiced apprehensions regarding the presence of "organized criminal activities intertwined with secessionist movements, violence, and extremism" in Canada .

He has also underscored that these issues have endured due to political considerations within Canada.

During a discourse at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Jaishankar articulated, "Over the past few years, Canada has witnessed a significant rise in organized crime associated with secessionist movements, along with instances of violence and extremism. These issues are intricately intertwined. As a matter of fact, we have been engaged in discussions concerning specific incidents and information related to these concerns."

When questioned about reports suggesting the involvement of the Five Eyes alliance in intelligence activities related to Nijjar's assassination and the FBI 's warning to Sikh leaders in the United States of "credible threats," Jaishankar responded, "I am not part of The Five Eyes, I am certainly not part of the FBI. So I think you are asking the wrong person."

The Five Eyes is an intelligence consortium composed of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

With regards to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations, Jaishankar reassured that India would take appropriate action if Canada provided specific information regarding the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Nijjar.

Previously, David Cohen , the United States Ambassador to Canada, revealed that it was "shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners" that prompted the Trudeau administration to suggest a potential link between "agents" of the Indian government and the assassination of separatist Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

'India-China Relations in Unusual State' since Galwan Clash

Jaishankar characterized the state of relations between India and China as "abnormal" since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, indicating that this situation might be of a prolonged nature. Speaking during a session at the Council on Foreign Relations on the subject of India-China relations, Jaishankar underscored that when the world's two most populous nations experience such tensions, it has global implications.

Jaishankar highlighted that dealing with China often entails deciphering their motives, as they tend to keep their reasons for their actions ambiguous. He observed, "You know, one of the challenges in dealing with China is their reluctance to provide clear explanations for their actions. Consequently, we frequently find ourselves attempting to deduce their intentions. There is a significant level of ambiguity in their behavior."

He further stressed the difficulty of maintaining normal relations with a nation that has breached agreements and behaved as it has in recent years. Jaishankar added, "So, if you consider the past three years, our relationship is in an abnormal state," Jaishankar added. "Contacts have been disrupted, official visits have been halted, and we are currently experiencing a high level of military tension. All of this has also had a negative impact on how China is perceived in India."