"India and Canada are two of our closest friends and partners", says US ::::: "India's position on Canada has been enunciated and explained in full detail", asserts New Delhi

"The thrust of our conversations with our partners is no different today than it is at any other forum -- it is essentially that we have core security concerns, a recent video surfaced from Pannun which presents a very serious security concern for the Indian interest," India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said after India-US 2+2 Ministerial meet in Delhi.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and US Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin were in Delhi for the fifth edition of the '2+2' dialogue. They met Indian counterparts Dr S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh. 

"These (India and Canada) are two of our closest friends and partners, and of course we want to see them resolving any differences or disputes that they have as a friend of both," the US Secretary of State said.

At a separate media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said New Delhi conveyed to the US side it's serious concerns over increasing activities of pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.

"Insofar as Canada is concerned we have been having very consistent conversations with all our friends and partners. Our position on this matter has been enunciated and explained in full detail on multiple occasions," Kwatra said.

"The thrust of our conversations with our partners is no different today than it is at any other forum -- it is essentially that we have core security concerns, a recent video surfaced from Pannun which presents a very serious security concern for the Indian interest," Kwatra said.

Antony Blinken

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), recently released a video threatening passengers of Air India flights on November 19, the day the ICC world cup final takes place. "We have made our position very, very clear to our friends and partners, they understand and appreciate that sense of where India comes from," he said, when asked whether India's ties with Canada figured in the talks.

Days after Trudeau's allegations, India temporarily suspended issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity. Canada has already withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India. India has resumed some of the visa services. Kwatra also said that the situation in the Middle-East figured in the talks.