The U.K. government has stated that the serious allegations surrounding the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada will not affect its ongoing trade negotiations with India. The statement came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that there were credible allegations of potential Indian links to the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response to the allegations, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi strongly rejected them as absurd and motivated. The Indian government dismissed a senior Canadian diplomat in a reciprocal move.

Despite the allegations, the U.K. government remains committed to working closely with its Canadian partners. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak assured that the U.K. will not comment further on the ongoing investigation by the Canadian authorities. When pressed about the matter, the spokesperson emphasized that work on the trade negotiations with India will continue as before.

The U.K. and India recently agreed to work towards a "landmark free trade agreement." The U.K. government's stance highlights its commitment to separate trade negotiations from unrelated issues. It intends to address concerns with countries directly, without conflating them with ongoing trade discussions. As the investigation into the murder continues, the U.K. remains focused on strengthening its trade relations with India and ensuring a mutually beneficial trade agreement.