"Serious developments", the UK said on Wednesday while referring to the present India-Canada diplomatic row, this time by taking the right next step: the government of India's cooperation with Canada's legal process.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said in a statement here that it remains in contact with Canadian partners over the "ongoing Canadian investigation linked to the government of India" and has expressed confidence in Ottawa's judicial system.
The statement comes even as India earlier this week expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, saying that the allegations levied against it by Canada were "preposterous" and part of a political agenda centered around vote-bank politics.
It came two days after Prime Minister Keir Starmer received a call from his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on Monday.
The UK and Canada form part of an intelligence alliance known as 'Five Eyes', which comprises Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
"We are in contact with our colleagues in Canada regarding the serious developments post-independent inquiries in Canada," said a spokesperson of the FCDO.
The UK has full confidence in Canada's judicial system. Respect for sovereignty and the rule of law is crucial. The government of India cooperation with Canada legal process is the right next step, said a spokesperson.
The India-Canada diplomatic row centers around the killing of Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which snowballed after the Canadian government claimed that Indian government agents conducted covert operations in the country.
New Delhi has turned down the attempts of the Canadian authorities to garner a connection of Indian agents with criminal gangs operating in Canada.
"The government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau government that is centred around vote-bank politics," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Since the Prime Minister of Canada made certain allegations in September 2023, the government of Canada has not provided any evidence so far, despite numerous requests from our side.
"This latest move is at a time when interactions have once again been marked by claims without facts, raising little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy to smear India for political gains," it adds.
That comes after a more innocuous statement from 10 Downing Street that preceded the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who received a call on Monday evening from his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.
"They discussed recent developments regarding allegations under investigation in Canada. Both agreed on the importance of the rule of law. They agreed to remain in close contact pending the conclusions of the investigation, read the Downing Street statement that did not mention India or its government by name.
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