The US embassy on Thursday categorically refuted recent reports suggesting that American Ambassador Eric Garcetti had expressed concerns about the potential impact of the diplomatic discord between New Delhi and Ottawa on India-US relations.
Media outlet Politico had earlier reported that Garcetti had purportedly hinted at the need for a temporary reduction in US engagement with Indian officials.
In response to these claims, a spokesperson from the US embassy vehemently dismissed the reports, asserting that Ambassador Garcetti was unwaveringly committed to strengthening the bonds between the United States and India. They emphasized his daily efforts to nurture this strategic and significant partnership, evident in his personal involvement and public engagements.
'The US embassy dismisses these reports. Ambassador Garcetti is working hard every day to deepen the partnership between the people and governments of the United States and India,'' news agency PTI quoted a US embassy spokesperson as saying.
'As his personal engagement and public schedule demonstrates, Ambassador Garcetti and the US Mission to India are working every day to advance the important, strategic, and consequential partnership we have with India,'' he added.
The underlying cause of this diplomatic tension traces back to the strained relationship between India and Canada, stemming from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of potential involvement by Indian agents in the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India promptly rebuffed these allegations as baseless and driven by ulterior motives. India had expelled a senior Canadian diplomat, mirroring Ottawa's earlier expulsion of an Indian official over the same case.
Politico's report, relying on an unnamed official, quoted Garcetti as expressing concerns that due to the ongoing diplomatic rift with Canada, relations between India and the United States might endure a rocky phase for an unspecified period. Garcetti also reportedly suggested the possibility of temporarily reducing interactions with Indian officials.
"Garcetti also has said the US may need to reduce its contact with Indian officials for an undefined period of time," the Politico report had claimed.
The White House weighed in on Tuesday, characterizing Canada's allegations regarding India's involvement in the separatist's killing as "serious" and calling for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
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