The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, stated that Canada’s accusation of Indian involvement in the killing of a separatist Sikh leader on Canadian soil highlights India’s “network of extra-territorial killings” going global. The Canadian government expelled India’s top intelligence agent over the matter. The slain leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, supported the establishment of an independent Khalistani state for Sikhs and was designated as a “terrorist” by India in 2020. However, the World Sikh Organisation of Canada, a nonprofit advocating for Canadian Sikhs, denies these charges.
Canada has claimed to be actively investigating credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the murder of the Sikh separatist leader. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to any foreign government’s involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen as an “unacceptable violation” of their sovereignty. He demanded that India take the investigation into the murder seriously. In response, India expelled a Canadian diplomat and dismissed the Canadian accusation as “absurd and motivated”. India urged Canada to take legal action against anti-Indian elements operating from its soil.
During a press briefing in Islamabad, the FO spokesperson highlighted India’s intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), as being actively involved in abductions and assassinations in South Asia. Pakistan has been a target of targeted killings and espionage by RAW and provided evidence of India’s involvement in attacks and sabotage in Pakistan.
The FO spokesperson called India’s assassination of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil a clear violation of international law. She added that it called into question India’s credibility as a reliable international partner.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Syrus Qazi, stated that Pakistan was not surprised by the Canadian accusation and that the world needed to recognize India’s ways. He mentioned the arrest of a naval intelligence officer by Pakistan for attempting to create instability and spread evil on Pakistani soil. Qazi emphasized that Indian involvement in creating instability in Pakistan has been a recurring issue.
The row over the Sikh leader’s killing escalates the tension between India and Canada, with signs of a brewing crisis before Trudeau revealed the investigation into Nijjar’s death on Monday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed concerns about anti-India activities in Canada during his meeting with Trudeau at the G20 summit. Canada has suspended negotiations for a free-trade agreement with India, and its trade minister canceled a planned trip to the country.
India has warned its citizens against visiting parts of Canada due to politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence targeting Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community. Canada, on the other hand, has updated its travel advisory for India, warning against travel to occupied Kashmir due to a militancy threat.
India’s main opposition party, Congress, has backed the government in rejecting Canada’s suspicions and urged a stand against threats to India’s sovereignty. The party emphasized the fight against terrorism and criticized Trudeau for defending the declared terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Sikh separatists demand the creation of “Khalistan” out of the Indian state of Punjab, which has led to a long-standing conflict.
The Sikh community in Canada claims not to be surprised by Trudeau’s assertion, alleging that India has targeted Sikhs in Canada for decades with espionage, disinformation, and now murder. The head of Canada’s New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh, has called for an investigation into India’s alleged interference in Canadian affairs.