'We See Them As Speculative...': MEA Dismisses Australian Media Reports On Expelled Indian Spies

India on Thursday dismissed media reports about the expulsion of two Indian spies from Australia as “speculative” and reaffirmed strong ties with the fellow democracy with which it shares an expansive relationship.

“We really have no comments to make on those reports. We see them as speculative reports and we have no comments to make on them,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, in response to a question, during a press conference.

“With Australia, we have a strategic partnership. We have a strong and vibrant relationship with that country. We are partners in the Quad and we have a large diaspora there. …It’s a very expansive relationship with Australia and we want to build on it,” he said when asked about the current state of ties between the two countries.

‘Good relationship with India’

As reports emerged regarding the “expulsion of Indian spies”, a senior government minister in the country on Wednesday assured the bilateral ties with India are good and had improved in recent years. “I don’t want to get into those kinds of operational issues in any way,” Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said during a television interview when he was asked about these reports.

“We’ve got a good relationship with India and with other countries in the region, it’s an important economic relationship, it’s become closer in recent years as a consequence of efforts on both sides, and that’s a good thing,” Chalmers said. After The Washington Post emerged this week, India on Tuesday said this report made “unwarranted and unsubstantiated” imputations on a serious matter.

‘Unwarranted and unsubstantiated’

In an earlier statement, the MEA had said, “The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter. There is an ongoing investigation of the High-Level Committee set up by the Government of India to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and others. Speculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful.”

Australian media reported on Tuesday that the country had expelled two Indian spies in 2020 for allegedly trying to “steal secrets” about sensitive defence projects and airport security. While The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald said two Indian spies were booted out, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) did not mention any number. The reports came a day after The Washington Post named an Indian RAW official for allegedly plotting to assassinate Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil last year.

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