New Zealand stresses need for investigation to “run its course” into Canadian allegations against India

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters stressed the need to let the ongoing investigation progress before jumping to conclusions regarding the allegations made by the Canadian government against India regarding the killing of India designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

As a member of the Five-Eyes intelligence alliance, New Zealand maintains its stance that if the allegations are proven true, it would raise serious concerns. John Tulloch, spokesperson for the Deputy PM, reiterated New Zealand’s position, underlining the importance of allowing the investigation to conclude before passing judgments. “New Zealand’s position on the allegations remains unchanged; if they are proven correct, then that would be of serious concern.

The minister’s point is that this is an ongoing criminal investigation. It needs to run its course before clear conclusions can be drawn,” Tulloch told ANI. Previously, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a possible link between Nijjar’s killing and Indian government agents, a claim India dismissed as “absurd and motivated.”

Nijjar, designated a terrorist in India, was fatally shot outside a Gurudwara in British Columbia on June 18 last year. However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has yet to name any suspects or make arrests in connection with the killing, sparking a diplomatic row between India and Canada.

This strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada, raising concerns about the future of their bilateral partnership. Meanwhile, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters concluded a successful visit to India from March 10 to 13, describing it as a crucial step in elevating the relationship between the two countries.

“New Zealand and India are two countries that can, should and will be doing more together,” Peters remarked, emphasizing a shared commitment to strengthening their relationship. During his visit to New Delhi, Peters met with his counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, reaffirming common strategic perspectives on regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

“Minister Jaishankar and I agreed to work together to unlock more opportunities and achieve a step up in the relationship between New Zealand and India. Further high-level political visits in both directions during 2024 will be a crucial part of this process,” he added. Peters also visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and held discussions with representatives of the Jama Masjid Mosque in New Delhi.