New Delhi, India, September 30, 2023: US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, held a crucial meeting with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi today during her two-day visit to India. The high-level diplomatic engagement touched upon various pressing issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific regional dynamics, and the bilateral relationship between the United States and India.
A statement released by the Indian Foreign Ministry detailed the broad spectrum of topics discussed during the meeting. However, intriguingly, the statement made no explicit mention of the recent murder of an Indian student in Canada, a matter that has garnered international attention.
The omission of any reference to the murder in the official statement has ignited speculation regarding the nature of the discussion between the two diplomats. Several experts have posited different theories to explain this absence.
One theory suggests that Nuland and Jaishankar might have jointly decided to downplay the issue in an attempt to prevent any potential escalation of tensions between the United States and India. Given the significance of the bilateral relationship between the two nations, there may have been a strategic decision to address the matter discreetly.
Another plausible explanation is that the diplomats deliberated on potential avenues for collaboration in the ongoing investigation into the murder. The United States has already extended its willingness to support Canadian authorities in their efforts to solve the case, and the conversation between Nuland and Jaishankar could have centered around specific cooperative measures.
It is also feasible that the limited duration of their meeting constrained the in-depth discussion of the murder. Nuland’s visit to India was relatively brief, and she had additional engagements, including a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Regardless of the rationale behind the absence of any mention of the murder in the official statement, it is expected that this omission will continue to fuel speculation and discussion regarding the true nature of the diplomatic talks between Nuland and Jaishankar.