EAM S. Jaishankar and Mélanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister, had a private meeting in Washington: Report

 EAM S. Jaishankar and Mélanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister, had a private meeting in Washington: Report

During his tour to the US, S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, met privately with Mélanie Joly, the minister of foreign affairs of Canada, according to sources cited by The Financial Times.

According to the FT story, Trudeau and Joly said last week that Ottawa was trying to resolve the conflict behind closed doors.

According to sources cited by the Financial Times (FT), Ottawa had also told New Delhi that ambassadors' diplomatic immunity would be lost if they continued to serve beyond the designated time.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last month that "Canadian law enforcement agencies have been studying credible accusations of a possible connection between brokers of the Indian government and the executing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar regarding Canadian soil on June 18. As a result, a diplomatic standoff between India and Canada developed.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the head of the outlawed Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India's most wanted terrorists, was shot dead by two unknown assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 of this year.

An earlier claim made by the Canadian government on September 19 that Indian operatives were involved in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was denied by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"We have seen and disapprove of the statements made in the Canadian Parliament by the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister. Allegations that the Indian government participated in any act of violence in Canada are preposterous and irrational.We are a democratic government that is firmly committed to the rule of law, according to the statement.

India decided to expel a top Canadian ambassador in retaliation for Ottawa's decision to kick out an Indian official involved in the case. India is eager to evaluate any particular or relevant material that Canada gives, according to S. Jaishankar, minister of external affairs of India.