India-Canada Row

According to an unnamed State Department official quoted by Politico, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has conveyed that relations between the two countries may experience a temporary downturn due to the diplomatic dispute between India and Canada over the Sikh leader’s killing.

Garcetti also suggested that the US might need to limit its interactions with Indian officials for an unspecified duration.

The diplomatic feud began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted on September 19 that there were “credible allegations” connecting Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia in June.

However, the US Embassy in India countered these claims, emphasizing Ambassador Garcetti’s efforts to strengthen the US-India partnership.

On September 28, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged India to cooperate with a Canadian investigation into the Sikh leader’s murder during a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

The victim, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, supported an independent Khalistani state and was designated as a “terrorist” by India in July 2020.

Overall, US Ambassador Garcetti warns of potential worsening in US-India ties amid the India-Canada row over Sikh leader’s killing.

World Bank Engages In Talks Regarding PIA’s Sell-Off Strategy

Meanwhile,

On Thursday, Privatization Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad restated the government’s determined commitment to divest major loss-making state-owned enterprises, aiming to prevent a substantial drain on financial resources and enhance their efficiency.

Moreover, during a meeting with World Bank Resident Director Najy Benhassine, the minister discussed the privatization agenda, with a specific emphasis on the divestment of PIA and other state-owned entities to optimize the performance of ex-Wapda distribution companies (Discos).