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India-Canada, Diplomatic Tussle Explained

The relationship between Canada and India, two prominent democracies, has experienced a series of intense and troubling events since mid-2023.

These events center around the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, in British Columbia, and the subsequent allegations of India’s involvement in the killing.

What started as a criminal investigation has escalated into a diplomatic crisis involving expulsions, visa restrictions, and a stark reduction in bilateral communication.

This article will delve into the complexities of the issue, the timeline of key events, and the wider implications for international diplomacy and South Asian communities.

The Assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

The turning point in Indo-Canadian relations came with the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, 2023, outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia.

Nijjar was a vocal advocate for Khalistan, the creation of an independent Sikh homeland carved out of India’s Punjab region.

His assassination has since reverberated throughout the Sikh community, both in Canada and globally, raising concerns about the safety of separatist activists living abroad.

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, had long been involved in organizing Sikh separatist activities, which India had deemed as promoting extremism and terrorism.

His death initially appeared to be a local crime, but it quickly became a focal point for diplomatic tensions when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that there was credible evidence linking Indian agents to the assassination.

This claim was strongly refuted by the Indian government, which called the accusations “absurd” and “unsubstantiated.”

Diplomatic Expulsions and Retaliation

As the investigation into Nijjar’s murder unfolded, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reportedly discovered a pattern of criminal activities targeting members of the South Asian community in Canada, orchestrated by agents linked to the Indian government.

This led to a series of diplomatic measures that culminated in a diplomatic standoff.

On Sept. 18, 2023, Trudeau announced in parliament that Canada was actively pursuing allegations of Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s killing. This announcement sparked immediate retaliation from India, which dismissed Trudeau’s claim.

Both nations engaged in tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats. Canada expelled India’s top intelligence officer, and India, in return, ousted Canada’s top diplomat.

The situation worsened when India suspended the issuance of new visas for Canadian citizens on Sept. 22, 2023, and asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in India.

Although the visa suspension was later lifted after two months, the underlying tensions had not been resolved. In a significant diplomatic setback for Canada, on Oct. 19, 2023, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced that 41 Canadian diplomats had been withdrawn from India.

The Broader Sikh Separatist Movement and the Khalistan Referendum

The murder of Nijjar and the subsequent diplomatic crisis reignited discussions about the Khalistan movement, which seeks to establish an independent Sikh state.

While this movement is largely dormant within India, it has significant support among diaspora communities in countries like Canada, the UK, and the US.

The global Sikh diaspora has organized events such as unofficial referendums to voice their desire for independence. One such event occurred on Oct. 29, 2023, in Surrey, British Columbia, at the same gurdwara (Sikh temple) where Nijjar was killed.

Tens of thousands of Sikhs participated in this unofficial vote, signaling the ongoing relevance of the Khalistan movement within the global Sikh community.

India views the Khalistan movement as a threat to its national security and has been vocal in its opposition to any efforts to revive it.

The country’s response to the Nijjar incident reflects its long-standing policy of countering what it perceives as extremist activities among the Sikh diaspora.

Indian officials have expressed frustration with Canada’s handling of Sikh separatist activities on its soil, leading to increasing diplomatic tensions.

U.S. Involvement and Concerns Over India’s Role

While the Canada-India diplomatic standoff dominated headlines, the situation took a broader geopolitical turn when the United States became involved.

On Nov. 22, 2023, a senior Biden administration official revealed that U.S. authorities had thwarted a plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist and close associate of Nijjar.

The plot allegedly involved Indian agents, adding to the allegations of India’s covert operations targeting Sikh leaders abroad.

The U.S. government issued a warning to India over the plot and expressed concerns about New Delhi’s involvement in such activities. The Washington Post further reported on April 30, 2024, that an Indian intelligence officer was directly involved in both Nijjar’s assassination and the foiled plot to kill Pannun in the U.S.

The White House described these allegations as a serious matter, while India’s foreign ministry rejected the report as containing “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations.”

These developments placed India in an increasingly difficult position internationally, as its actions were scrutinized not only by Canada but also by the United States.

The allegations of India’s involvement in extrajudicial killings abroad raised broader questions about state-sponsored operations targeting dissidents, which could have far-reaching implications for international law and diplomatic norms.

The Future of Indo-Canadian Relations

The ongoing diplomatic spat between Canada and India raises significant concerns about the future of relations between the two nations.

Historically, both countries have enjoyed strong bilateral ties, bolstered by trade, immigration, and educational exchanges. However, the fallout from the Nijjar case has cast a long shadow over this relationship.

In September 2023, just days before the Nijjar controversy erupted, Canada paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with India.

This unexpected move followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expression of concerns about Sikh separatist protests in Canada during the G20 summit in New Delhi.

These events indicate that the diplomatic crisis has already affected economic relations, with trade negotiations now stalled indefinitely.

The expulsion of diplomats and the reduction of Canada’s diplomatic presence in India could also have long-term effects on cooperation in other areas, such as education, security, and counter-terrorism.

Canada is home to one of the largest Sikh populations outside of India, and its handling of Sikh separatist activities will likely remain a point of contention for India moving forward.

The diplomatic crisis between Canada and India, triggered by the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has unveiled deep-seated tensions between the two nations.

What began as a criminal investigation into Nijjar’s assassination has evolved into a complex web of diplomatic expulsions, visa restrictions, and allegations of state-sponsored extrajudicial killings.

As both countries navigate these turbulent waters, the situation highlights the broader challenges of managing diaspora politics, the role of state actors in international assassinations, and the impact of domestic policies on international relations.

Moving forward, the international community will closely watch how Canada and India address these issues, particularly as they pertain to the safety of diaspora communities and the rule of law in global diplomacy.

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