US refutes reports of expelling Indian diplomats amid India-Canada row

The US State Department has refuted reports claiming Washington is considering 'expelling' Indian diplomats amid the strained ties between India and China.

During a press briefing on Tuesday (local time), State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said he was unfamiliar with any such report and was not aware of any expulsion of Indian diplomats.

"I am not familiar with this report that we expelled Indian diplomats...I'm not aware of any expulsion," Miller stated.

Earlier this month, India recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were declared "persons of interest" by the Canadian government, in the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The US also reacted on the case of Vikash Yadav, a former employee of the Indian government, in connection with his alleged role in directing a foiled plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. 

Being asked about Yadav's possible extradition, Miller said that the extradition matter comes under the prerogative of the US Justice Department. He also mentioned that the US has been in dialogue with the Indian government on this issue.

The State Department spokesperson added that India had sent a delegation to the US two weeks ago to brief officials on the status of their investigation and that the US made it clear to Indian counterparts that there would be "real accountability."

"I would refer you to the Justice Department on that when it comes to extradition. That's a legal matter that we differ from DOJ. But I will tell you that we have been in dialogue with the government of India. They sent a delegation here two weeks ago to directly brief US government officials on the status of their investigation, and we briefed them on the status of our investigation. We made it clear that at that meeting, there will be real accountability," Miller said.

Meanwhile, on October 18, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) named Yadav as wanted in a poster related to his alleged role in directing the foiled assassination plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the individual named in the US Justice Department's indictment in the foiled assassination plot against Pannun was no longer an employee of the government of India.