KAZI ABUL MONSUR, JOURNALIST##
India and Canada are currently experiencing diplomatic tensions, largely due to issues related to the Sikh separatist movement and alleged interference in each other’s internal affairs.
The primary source of tension is linked to the Khalistan movement, a separatist campaign that advocates for an independent Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab region. While the movement has largely waned within India, there remains a significant pro-Khalistan support base among some members of the Sikh diaspora in countries like Canada. India has often expressed concerns over the activities of these groups, accusing them of promoting extremism and threatening its sovereignty.
Canada is home to a large Sikh population, some of whom are vocal supporters of the Khalistan movement. Indian authorities have raised concerns over public events in Canada where separatist sentiments were promoted, including incidents like rallies that commemorated individuals India considers terrorists. Canada, however, has maintained a stance of allowing free expression, arguing that it cannot curb the political views of its citizens as long as they are within legal bounds.
A recent flashpoint in 2023 was the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader who was a prominent advocate of the Khalistan cause. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist due to his alleged links to separatist activities. In September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of involvement in Nijjar’s killing, based on intelligence gathered by Canadian agencies. This led to a sharp deterioration in relations.
Following Trudeau’s accusation, both countries expelled diplomats. India dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. In retaliation, India also suspended visa services for Canadian citizens and advised its nationals to exercise caution while traveling to Canada, citing concerns over anti-India activities.
Prior to this, there were signs of strain in the bilateral relationship, including the freezing of negotiations on a trade deal between the two countries. Security cooperation has also been impacted, as India accuses Canada of not taking sufficient action against groups it deems as promoting terrorism or extremism.
This diplomatic standoff has brought to the surface underlying tensions over the Sikh diaspora’s political activities and how each country views issues related to sovereignty, extremism, and free speech. It remains to be seen how the two governments will resolve their differences.
Several significant decisions have been made between India and Canada as their diplomatic tensions escalated, particularly in the aftermath of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations against India regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Following Trudeau’s allegations in September 2023 that the Indian government was potentially involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat, whom they described as the head of Indian intelligence in Canada. In retaliation, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat, escalating the diplomatic conflict. Shortly after the expulsion of diplomats, India announced the suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens, including the issuance of all categories of visas—tourist, business, and student visas. This decision was framed as a result of security concerns in India’s consulates in Canada.
The Indian government issued a travel advisory for its citizens in Canada, urging them to exercise caution due to what it described as “growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes.” While Canada did not issue a formal advisory, there were concerns raised by the Canadian government about the potential safety of its citizens, particularly those of Indian descent, due to rising tensions.
Earlier in 2023, even before the Nijjar controversy, both India and Canada had paused negotiations on a proposed free trade agreement. This suspension followed growing friction between the two countries over various political issues, particularly the concerns India raised regarding pro-Khalistan activities in Canada. India’s Decision: In October 2023, India asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff in the country. India argued that the number of Canadian diplomats stationed in India was disproportionate to the number of Indian diplomats in Canada. Canada complied with this demand, though it strained diplomatic channels further.
The diplomatic spat has affected various bilateral engagements, including security cooperation. Talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and other trade-related discussions have been stalled indefinitely. Cultural and people-to-people ties, however, remain strong due to the significant Indian diaspora in Canada. Canada has sought support from its allies, including the U.S., U.K., and Australia, in calling for a thorough investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. While these countries have expressed concern over the allegations, they have also urged restraint and a resolution through diplomatic channels. India has consistently denied any involvement in Nijjar’s killing, calling Trudeau’s accusations politically motivated and lacking evidence. India has also pointed out Canada’s alleged failure to act against what it views as extremist elements in the Canadian Sikh diaspora.
While the visa suspension has directly impacted Canadian citizens looking to travel to India, there has also been a significant effect on Indian students and professionals, many of whom rely on Canada for education and employment. Canada’s immigration policy has not been altered, but the diplomatic rift could have a longer-term effect on the movement of people between the two countries if tensions persist.
These decisions have intensified the diplomatic crisis, and while both sides have expressed a willingness to avoid further escalation, no significant de-escalation measures have yet been taken. The future of India-Canada relations will likely depend on how both nations address the underlying issues surrounding the Nijjar case and broader concerns about extremism and sovereignty.
As of now, there have been no significant public initiatives directly taken by India or Canada to resolve the ongoing diplomatic standoff, although some behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts and international mediation are likely occurring. After making the allegations, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for India’s cooperation in the investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing. He emphasized the need for maintaining a rule-based international order and transparent dialogue. Trudeau has also sought the support of Canada’s allies to pressure India to engage in a joint investigation or share any relevant information.
India has consistently rejected the allegations of state involvement in Nijjar’s death and has stated that the accusations are based on unverified intelligence. However, India has refrained from further escalating the rhetoric and has expressed its desire for normalizing relations, provided Canada addresses its concerns over Khalistan-related activities. India has, however, not shown willingness for a formal investigation with Canada.
Canada has sought the support of its close allies like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. While these countries have expressed concern over the situation, they have encouraged both Canada and India to pursue diplomatic avenues for resolving the matter. The U.S. National Security Council and other officials have called for both countries to “engage in dialogue” to address their differences.
India has used its diplomatic channels to communicate its position to international partners, emphasizing its concerns about extremism in the Canadian Sikh diaspora and portraying Canada’s actions as politically motivated, especially with elections in Canada in mind. India has sought to maintain its international relationships without letting the Canada dispute spill over into its relations with other Western nations.
During the G20 Summit held in New Delhi in September 2023, Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a brief but tense interaction. Modi raised India’s concerns about pro-Khalistan activities in Canada, and Trudeau responded by emphasizing the importance of rule of law and democratic values. The interaction, while not yielding concrete results, was an acknowledgment of the need for dialogue, even amid strained relations.
Despite the expulsion of diplomats and the suspension of visa services, both countries maintain basic diplomatic engagement, and their embassies remain operational. Quiet diplomacy, through backchannel talks and lower-level diplomatic contacts, may be occurring to find ways to de-escalate the situation.
The global community, including countries such as the U.S., has been urging both nations to address the issue diplomatically. While no official third-party mediation has taken place, there is international interest in resolving the issue before it impacts global geopolitics further, especially given India’s strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region.
Both India and Canada have significant economic ties, especially in areas like trade, education, and immigration. India is a major source of immigrants and students for Canada, and many Canadian businesses see India as a key market. As such, economic incentives may push both countries to avoid further deterioration in relations. Some analysts believe that stalled trade talks (like the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) could resume if diplomatic tensions ease.
While there is no formal initiative like a peace summit or an official joint investigation into Nijjar’s death, there are indications that neither country wants the situation to worsen further, especially given the significant bilateral interests at stake. However, the path to resolving this conflict will likely require compromise on both sides, particularly regarding sensitive issues like Khalistan extremism and sovereignty.## [email protected]