NEW DELHI: Two weeks and ticking: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is yet to come up with any evidence ref his charge that India was involved in Khalistani extremist Hardeep Nijjar’s killing. But as Kanwal Sibal, India’s former foreign secretary noted on The Gist, the absence of evidence has not prevented the US, UK and Australia from demanding that India come clean. In his view, it underscores the deep ties between these countries, ties that go back decades, hardened by two world wars, the Cold War, ethnic and religious affinities and so on. It also reflects unease at the rise of a country that has until now, been a fence sitter internationally, lacking economic muscle and political intent. While they see the need for India to counter China, and they hope to profit from India’s vast market, they would rather the former stay low key and not challenge the existing order which they have dominated for so many years. In that sense, India or Modi pulling off the G20 with no reference to Ukraine in the joint statement, would have annoyed many quarters in Western capitals. Tune in for more in this conversation with Kanwal Sibal, former foreign secretary.
