India-Canada relations have reached a boiling point, with both countries expelling six diplomats each in response to escalating tensions. This diplomatic fallout stems from a deepening conflict over allegations of the Indian government’s involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader based in Canada. The situation has intensified, with Canada accusing India of targeting Canadian citizens and conducting organised criminal activities within its borders. On the other hand, India has vehemently rejected these accusations, labelling them as unfounded and absurd.
Chronology of India-Canada Stifled Relationship
The backdrop to this crisis dates back to June 18, 2023, when Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani extremist whom India had designated a terrorist in 2020, was shot dead by masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia. Nijjar’s assassination immediately raised suspicions, particularly in Canada, where Khalistani separatism has remained a contentious issue between the two nations. Over the years, Sikh separatist movements have gained traction within certain factions of the Canadian Sikh diaspora, much to India’s disapproval.
The first major diplomatic fallout from Nijjar’s killing occurred in September 2023, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of being linked to the assassination. In a speech to Canada’s parliament on September 18, 2023, Trudeau announced that Canadian security agencies were “actively pursuing credible allegations” connecting Indian government agents to Nijjar’s murder. He called it a blatant violation of Canada’s sovereignty, emphasizing that any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil was unacceptable.
India was swift in its rebuttal. The Indian government dismissed Trudeau’s claims as “absurd” and “politically motivated.” Diplomatic tensions escalated rapidly, with both countries expelling each other’s senior diplomats in a tit-for-tat move by September 19, 2023. Canada’s decision to expel India’s top intelligence officer from the country was met with an equivalent response from India, as it expelled Canada’s counterpart. Relations worsened further as India suspended the issuance of new visas to Canadian citizens and demanded that Ottawa reduce its diplomatic presence in India.
The escalating situation drew significant international attention, particularly from the United States. The White House, while maintaining a careful stance, acknowledged the seriousness of the matter. Reports later surfaced that a high-ranking officer from India’s intelligence services had allegedly been directly involved not only in Nijjar’s assassination but also in a thwarted plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist figure in the United States.
Meanwhile, in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) launched a comprehensive investigation into Nijjar’s killing and related incidents. The diplomatic row has significantly impacted bilateral relations. In September 2023, Canada abruptly paused negotiations on a proposed trade agreement with India, a move that was seen as directly tied to the escalating tensions.
In October 2023, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced that 41 Canadian diplomats had been withdrawn from India amid the dispute. This move was seen as an effort to de-escalate tensions, but it further highlighted the severity of the diplomatic crisis.
The broader diplomatic row was exacerbated by the actions of the Sikh diaspora in Canada, particularly in British Columbia. On October 29, 2023, tens of thousands of Sikhs gathered in Surrey at the very gurdwara where Nijjar was assassinated, participating in an unofficial referendum on the creation of an independent Sikh state, Khalistan. This act, while largely symbolic, served to underscore the growing divide between India and Canada over the issue of Sikh separatism.
The Indian government has long expressed concerns about the activities of Khalistani separatists operating within Canada. During Trudeau’s visit to New Delhi for the G20 Summit in September 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed strong concerns about the ongoing Sikh separatist protests in Canada. Modi’s government views the Khalistani movement as a direct threat to India’s sovereignty and has been frustrated by what it perceives as Canada’s leniency towards these groups. The issue has strained diplomatic ties between the two nations for years, but Nijjar’s assassination and subsequent developments have brought the tension to a critical point.
While Canada’s accusations against India have garnered international attention, India has remained firm in its stance, denying any involvement in Nijjar’s killing. India’s foreign ministry described reports linking its intelligence services to the assassination as “unwarranted” and “unsubstantiated.” India has also expressed frustration over Canada’s reluctance to provide evidence supporting its allegations. In an interview with the Globe and Mail newspaper on February 5, 2024, India’s High Commissioner to Canada made it clear that India would not cooperate with Canadian investigators unless concrete evidence was shared.
The situation became even more complicated when, in April 2024, the Washington Post reported that an Indian intelligence officer was directly involved in both Nijjar’s assassination and the foiled plot to kill Pannun in the United States. The White House issued a stern warning to India over the matter, further escalating diplomatic tensions.
On May 3, 2024, the RCMP charged three individuals connected to the murder, further cementing Canada’s belief in India’s involvement. Additionally, in August 2024, the RCMP issued a warning to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun about an increased threat to his life, a clear indication that the perceived danger was far from over.
Despite these ongoing investigations and warnings, India continues to reject all allegations as baseless. It argues that the accusations are politically motivated and part of a broader campaign to discredit the Indian government. Indian officials have pointed out that Nijjar was a wanted terrorist and that Canada has, for years, harboured individuals involved in anti-India activities under the guise of political asylum.
As of mid-2024, the situation between India and Canada remains highly volatile. The two countries have deep economic and cultural ties, but the current crisis threatens to unravel decades of cooperation. The ongoing investigation into Nijjar’s killing, along with mounting accusations against the Indian government, has left little room for reconciliation. The trade talks, which were aimed at fostering stronger economic ties between the two nations, remain on hold, and it is unclear when, or if, they will resume. With both nations expelling diplomats and suspending key diplomatic functions, the future of India-Canada relations hangs in the balance.