Nijjar’s killing: Aussie intel chief supports Trudeau’s claim
Melbourne, Oct 19: Australia’s domestic intelligence chief has said that he has “no reason to dispute” Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s claim of the Indian government’s role in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June this year. The accusations, which came last month, kicked up a diplomatic row between India and Canada with both nations expelling a diplomat each and New Delhi dismissing the claims as “absurd”. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director General Mike Burgess told ABC News channel that “it is a serious allegation” and he would have “no reason to dispute what the Canadian government said in this matter”. Burgess’ comments came in California where he was present for a public gathering of Five Eyes intelligence partners, which includes Australia, US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand as its members. (IANS)
US halted communications with Pak after cipher fiasco
Islamabad, Oct 19: United States officials halted communications with Pakistani counterparts after former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s cipher fiasco, a senior diplomat has revealed, as per the media reports. Imran Khan, on March 27 last year, had brandished a piece of paper during a public rally and portrayed it as a copy of a cipher in his speech, alleging that the US wanted him out of power. The revelation about the US officials’ communications halt was made by Faisal Tirmzi, who was the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dealing with US-related matters, Geo News reported. He told the details to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as the body conducted interviews of relevant officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister’s Office to probe the cipher case. (IANS)
