Washington D.C./IBNS: The United States has called Canada's allegations that India's Home Minister Amit Shah was involved in a plot targeting Khalistani separatists in Ottawa "concerning", media reports said.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters, "The allegations made by the government of Canada are concerning, and we will continue to consult with the Canadian government about those allegations."

Miller made the remark after Canada's Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison on Tuesday told a parliamentary committee that he confirmed Shah's identity to a journalist from The Washington Post earlier in October.

The Washington Post had earlier reported that Canadian security agencies have evidence proving the involvement of an Indian official in targeting Sikh separatists in Ottawa.

The Post report claimed Canada identified Shah as the Indian official.

Morrison later said he had confirmed to the Post journalist Shah's identity.

India's External Affairs Ministry is yet to respond to the allegations.

India-Canada standoff over Khalistani row

A recent standoff between New Delhi and Ottawa was triggered after Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian officials of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India responded sharply after Canada called the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats "persons of interest" in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In a long statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We have received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country. The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics.

"Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian Government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains."

In a statement which leaves India vindicated, Trudeau on Wednesday said he had no "hard evidentiary proof" to back his claims that India government officials were involved in Nijjar's killing.