Expressing hope that the matters between India and Canada would be resolved at the political level, the Canadian Deputy Army Chief, Major General Peter Scott, who is in India for the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC), said on September 25 that at the army to army level both nations continue to enjoy a “great relationship”.
“As army to army we are looking for opportunities where we can exchange ideas and learn from each other. That’s a political issue and we will let the political masters deal with that. The armies will focus on learning from each other and finding opportunities to train and exercise together,” Major General Scott said in response to questions from the media on the ongoing diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
He is representing the Canadian Army at the 13th IPACC being jointly hosted India and the U.S. The 47th Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar and 9th Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum being held.
Elaborating further, he said that from the get go, the intent was for Canada’s army to go for this conference so that they can discuss not only with India but all the nations participating in this conference to “find and discuss issues of common interest and to find areas where our armies can contribute to peace and security in the area, whether that’s through exercises, exchanging of officers or soldiers, participating in exercises or participating in forums like this.”
Bilateral ties between India and Canada nosedived following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement alleging “potential” involvement of Indian State agents in the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. The statement was followed by the expulsion of an Indian diplomat from Canada. India, which has rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”, expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in return.
Published - September 26, 2023 02:55 pm IST
