Nijjar Was A Plumber As Much Bin Laden Was A Construction Engineer: Ex-Pentagon Official
Following the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in Canada, many, especially in the Western media, have been covering up his extremist links and projecting him as a Sikh activist, independence campaigner etc.
They have also stressed how he worked as a plumber after moving to Canada in the 1990s.
Why Nijjar is not just a plumber?
But according to Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official, Nijjar was a plumber like Osama Bin Laden was a construction engineer.
"Let's not fool ourselves, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was not simply a plumber any more than Osama Bin Laden was a construction engineer. He had blood on his hands through multiple attacks," Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told ANI.
How US is taking a cautionary approach?
Ever since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the explosive allegation earlier this week, linking Indian agents to the murder that took place outside a Gurdwara in British Colombia, western countries have been taking a cautionary approach while commenting about it.
Perhaps none has walked a tighter rope than Canada's neighbour, the US.
The US, while not publicly buying Canada's allegations, has termed them as serious and has urged India to cooperate with the probe.
When US carried out assassinations on foreign soil
As the US gets increasingly involved in the diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of the Khalistani separatist leader, many pointed out that Washington has a long history of carrying out such assassinations on foreign soil.
"What we're talking about isn't transnational repression. We are talking about transnational terrorism and what the United States did to Qasem Soleimani and what the United States did to Osama Bin Laden is really no different than what India is alleged to have done in this case," Rubin said.
Which side will US choose?
He also felt that the US may go with India and not Canada if forced to pick a side in the row.
"I suspect that the United States doesn't want to be painted a corner to choose between two friends. But if we have to choose between two friends, increasingly, we're going to choose India on this matter, simply because Nijjar was a terrorist, and India is too important. Our relationship is too important," Rubin said.
What US has said
Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said that Washington was "closely coordinating" with Ottawa on the issue and wanted to see "accountability" in the case.
Blinken said the US has engaged directly with the Indian government on the issue, and the most productive thing would be the completion of this investigation.
"Let me say a few things about this. First, we are deeply concerned about the allegations that Prime Minister Trudeau has raised," he said.
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