“We do not comment on details of ongoing criminal investigations”: New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters on the India-Canada dispute

Wellington: Amid rising diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Saturday that the country had been informed by Canada of the criminal investigation into violence against members of its South Asian community.

Peters added that if Canadian law enforcement authorities were able to substantiate these “publicly stated” allegations, the consequences could be “very concerning.”

In a post on

He distanced himself from New Zealand, saying: “We do not comment on the details of ongoing criminal investigations, either in New Zealand or abroad, except to say that it is important that the rule of law and judicial process are respected and followed.”

In his contribution, he said New Zealand is home to a diverse population, with large communities with cultural connections to a wide range of countries from across Asia, the Pacific and Europe.

He concluded: “We expect all of these communities to act and be treated lawfully and with respect.”

New Zealand, along with Canada, the US, the UK and Australia, is a member of the Five Eyes Alliance, an intelligence alliance between the countries. The alliance includes the exchange of information on various aspects such as security, people, defense and geo-intelligence.

Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also spoke to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the allegations made by Canada against India.

India expelled six Canadian diplomats on Monday, hours after summoning Canada’s Chargé d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler and saying the “unfounded attacks” on the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada were completely unacceptable.

The move came after Canada expelled six Indian diplomats after police collected evidence that they were part of a “campaign of violence” by the Indian government, Reuters news agency reported earlier, citing a Canadian government source.

Earlier, on Monday, India “strongly” rejected a diplomatic note from Canada that said the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats were “persons of interest” in an investigation, calling it “absurd insinuations” and part of politics Agenda of the Justin Trudeau government.

In a strong statement, India said Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility towards India has long been evident and that his government has deliberately given space to violent extremists and terrorists to “harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.”

“India-Canada relations deteriorated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed in a parliamentary speech last year that he had “credible allegations” about India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in Surrey in June last year.