Describing relationship with India as ‘important’, Canada’s defence minister Bill Blair Sunday stated Toronto will proceed to pursue partnerships like Indo-Pacific technique whereas the investigation of the killing of Khalistani extremist chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar will proceed, PTI reported.

“We perceive that this may be, and has confirmed to be, a difficult difficulty with respect to our relationship with India,” Blair was quoted as saying by Global News.

The Canadian defence minister stated the Indo-Pacific technique was nonetheless a vital one for the nation and has led to an elevated navy presence within the area and commitments for additional patrol capabilities.

The technique commits $492.9 million over 5 years towards these navy priorities, out of a complete of practically $2.3 billion over the identical interval, the report stated.

“But on the identical time, now we have a accountability to defend the legislation, defend our residents, and on the identical time be sure that we conduct a radical investigation and get to the reality,” he stated.

If the allegations are confirmed true, Blair stated “there’s a very vital concern that Canada can have with respect to the violation of our sovereignty within the homicide of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil.”

Tensions flared between the 2 nations following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explosive allegations of a “potential” involvement of Indian brokers within the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

New Delhi rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat transfer to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case.

Canada had been searching for deeper commerce, defence and immigration ties with India earlier than the “credible intelligence,” as Trudeau known as it, was first raised, Global News reported.

India requested Canada to downsize its diplomatic workers within the nation, arguing that there ought to be parity in energy and rank equivalence within the mutual diplomatic presence.