Latest NewsWorld

Mutual Diplomatic Expulsions: A Breakdown of Canada-India Relations

Diplomatic Fallout Affects Relations Between Canada, India, and the U.S.

Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials as part of the investigation into the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia last year, according to the foreign ministry’s announcement on Monday.

In a reciprocal move, India ordered the expulsion of six senior Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner, and withdrew its ambassador from Canada, countering Canada’s claim that it had expelled the Indian envoy.

Relations between Canada and India have soured since last year, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted that there was evidence connecting Indian agents to the assassination of the Sikh separatist leader.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported having significant intelligence regarding broad criminal activities allegedly orchestrated by Indian government agents targeting members of the South Asian community in Canada.

On June 18, 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Canadian citizen advocating for an independent Sikh state, was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh community.

On September 1, 2023, a Canadian trade official announced that Canada had paused negotiations for a proposed trade agreement with India, an unexpected move following previous plans to finalize an initial deal later that year.

On September 10, 2023, during a G20 summit in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed strong concerns to Trudeau about Sikh separatist demonstrations in Canada.

On September 18, 2023, Trudeau informed Parliament that Canada was “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to Nijjar’s murder.

In response, India dismissed Trudeau’s claims as “absurd.” A tit-for-tat diplomatic spat ensued, with Canada expelling India’s top intelligence officer and India reciprocating with the expulsion of the Canadian counterpart.

On September 22, 2023, India halted the issuance of new visas for Canadians and requested Ottawa to decrease its diplomatic presence in India. Two months later, India resumed visa issuance.

On October 19, 2023, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced that Canada had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India amid the ongoing dispute over Nijjar’s assassination.

On October 29, 2023, tens of thousands of Sikhs gathered at the same gurdwara in Surrey where Nijjar was killed to participate in an unofficial referendum advocating for an independent Sikh state.

On November 21, 2023, India’s anti-terrorism agency filed a case against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist, claiming he issued video warnings to Air India passengers regarding threats to their safety.

The following day, a senior U.S. administration official stated that American authorities had disrupted a plot to assassinate Pannun and cautioned India about its potential involvement.

On February 5, 2024, India’s High Commissioner told the Globe and Mail that India would not share information with Canadian investigators regarding Nijjar’s murder until Canada provided evidence.

On April 30, 2024, the White House referred to a Washington Post report as a serious issue, claiming that an officer in India’s intelligence service was implicated in both Nijjar’s assassination and the thwarted plot against Pannun in the U.S. India’s foreign ministry condemned the report as “unwarranted and unsubstantiated.”

On May 3, 2024, Canadian police charged three individuals connected to Nijjar’s murder, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

Also Read: Diplomatic Tensions Escalate as Canada and India Expel Diplomats

By August 27, 2024, Canadian police alerted Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist and associate of Nijjar, of an increased threat to his life.

Follow us on our social media platforms here: Twitter  WHATSAPP CHANNEL FACEBOOK PAGE

Related Articles

Back to top button