In a first admission by any US government official, a top United States diplomat confirmed that Americans intelligence spied on a fellow Quad member and tipped off against India.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publically criticized India about Indian agents' involvement in the killing of a Khalistan leader—a Canadian citizen—in Canada.
CTV News Channel, Canada's 24-hour all-news network, reported quoting the US Ambassador to Canada David Cohen, there was "shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners" that prompted Trudeau's public allegation of India.
What is Five Eyes network?
'Five Eyes' network is an intelligence alliance comprising United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It is both surveillance-based and signals intelligence (SIGINT).
The CTV's report is based on its exclusive interview on CTV's programme 'Question Period with Vassy Kapelos' that is to air on Sunday.
CTV quoted Cohen as saying that he confirmed: "There was shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners that helped lead Canada to make the statements that the Prime Minister made."
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"In the days since, as diplomatic tensions continue to ratchet up - from Canada reassessing its staffing in India, to India suspending visa services for Canadians - there have been swirling questions about what intelligence is at the centre of this story, who was aware of it, and when," the CTV report said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is deeply concerned about the allegations raised by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau against India and Washington was closely coordinating with Ottawa on the issue and wants to see accountability in the case.
