Intel-Based Allegations Pull India-Canada Ties Awry: Trudeau's Admission on Nijjar Killing

canada india ties strain trudeau nijjar claim
Justin Trudeau
Indian-Canadian diplomatic tensions have sharply escalated since 2023 when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dropped a bombshell accusation implicating the Indian government in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist that had been duly designated in India. While testifying in the latest public inquiry, Trudeau admitted that Canada possessed no "hard evidentiary proof" to back those accusations, suggesting that his government's stance rested largely on intelligence, even including that sourced from Five Eyes.

Nijjar killing: an unsolved conflict

He was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, branded a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, shot dead outside a gurdwara in the city of Surrey in British Columbia in June 2023. The RCMP later found six Indian diplomats alleged to be part of the plan to kill Nijjar, also sneaking in the involvement of Indian agents and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in the alleged criminal enterprise.

During the investigation, Trudeau said intelligence from Canada possibly via Five Eyes allies, namely the United States, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, pointed to clearly Indian involvement in the murder of Nijjar and clarified later that it was no hard evidence. The Five Eyes network is known for its focus on signal intelligence and surveillance, both of which are leading edges informing the network .

Diplomatic Fallout: India Rejects Allegations

The allegations reached a point in India-Canada relations wherein matters took a dramatic turn upward. India promptly rejected the allegations as baseless, severely criticizing the country for having nothing concrete to give for such grave accusations against its citizens. In retaliation, India sent six Canadian diplomats packing and called back its high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma.

There was a sharp reaction from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in the statement, terming it “preposterous imputations” and accusing the maple leaf government of indulging in vote-bank politics. On its part, it made it consistent that Canada was now a haven for Khalistani extremism and separatism which threatened India’s security.

Intelligence Over Evidence: Trudeau’s Approach

During his testimony, he quoted a private conversation with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in September 2023. According to him, he asked Modi how India was involved. Modi replied that anti-Indian elements were also present there in Canada and that he wanted them arrested. Although those talks were held, it was also an admission on the part of Trudeau that the accusations against its Canadian peers were not evidence but based upon assessments of intelligence and he elected not to reveal them until the G20 summit.

The method Canada is taking, relying more on intuition than actual evidence, has been seen under a cloud of criticism. While talking about his intuition being “pretty clear, incredibly clear on that matter,” Trudeau hints at the fact of no actual evidence. His words have become significant admissions at a time when this diplomatic spat is doing rounds.

India’s Stand on Nijjar and Khalistani Terrorism

India maintains its stance: Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an alleged Khalistani terrorist, had been involved in secessionist activities, including pushing for the creation of a separate Sikh state called Khalistan. The terrorist had allegedly aided and abetted the preparation of explosive acts in India, said the National Investigation Agency of India. From India’s perspective, Nijjar’s death was unfortunate but linked to his activity that was of a terrorist in nature, and not activism, as some claim in Canada.

In addition, the Indian officials have further pointed an accusing finger to Canada for being silent spectators, while Khalistani terrorism on its turf is taking place. This arises from some historical grievances that Canada has provided shelter and fostered elements that are anti-India and propagate anti-national activities and become a security threat to India.

Continued Diplomatic Stalemate Impact:

Although both countries are still unclear about the identity issue involving Nijjar, a diplomatic row between them can hardly be resolved. Was he a Khalistani terrorist, as New Delhi claims, or was he a community leader, as many in Canada seem to believe? This has furthered divergent narratives in both the countries.

A major win for the Indian narrative, this is what Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman says about it. While taking the stiffest position by expelling diplomats and naming India’s High Commissioner in its investigation, Canada now seems to soften things under the veil of clarification on part of Trudeau. According to Bordman, though India might have had a technical victory with the fact that there was no concrete evidence, beyond this, not much has changed in the diplomatic scale.

Even the statement of the prime minister who said that he would go for the territorial integrity of India is also blamed to have been uttered by him. His government has been blamed for showing leniency towards Khalistani groups present in Canada. Although Trudeau disapproves Sikh separatism on international platforms, sometimes his government actions lack consistency.

Relations Between India and Canada Hit a Low

These allegations have pushed the relations between India and Canada to a historic low. There is little hope that the diplomatic crisis would find a resolution anytime soon as both countries seem to be sticking to their positions. Allegations and the sharp rebuttal from India reflect undergirding issues such as the rift on the treatment of Sikh separatism and Khalistani extremism.

The case has once again highlighted the problems of charting relationships with foreign nations in terms of perceptions rather than fact. As the investigations and diplomatic diplomacy continue, the effects of these allegations may not only reverberate through the bilateral relationship but further forward in geopolitical relations with Canada, India, and their relations with the world.

In short, the confession from Justin Trudeau raises a big question mark over the statements issued by Canada at the very initial stage, and indeed such claims are accompanied by proof. The diplomatic tussle still on and questions still roaming inside the minds about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar vividly depict the complexities and sensibilities of India-Canada relations.