Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has revealed that his government is working closely with its Five Eyes allies, especially the United States, in investigating the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan leader. The Five Eyes Alliance is an intelligence-sharing group made up of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Trudeau has already spoken with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and New Zealand’s Winston Peters about the case.
The US State Department has stepped into the picture, urging India to cooperate with Canada’s investigation. The case centers on the murder of Nijjar, who was shot dead by unknown attackers at a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June of last year. Nijjar was a vocal supporter of the Khalistan movement, which seeks an independent Sikh state separate from India. India had previously labeled him a terrorist under its Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), making the situation even more complex.
Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, stated that India has not been cooperating with Canada’s requests to assist in the investigation. The US sees the accusations as very serious and has called on India to engage fully with Canada’s inquiry. However, India has taken a different stance. The tension between the two countries reached new heights when India withdrew its High Commissioner from Canada and expelled six Canadian diplomats. This move came after Canada asked India to waive the diplomatic immunity of certain Indian diplomats, suspecting they might be involved in the case.
Trudeau and the head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Mike Duheme, held press conferences where they claimed to have “evidence” linking Indian government agents to activities that threaten public safety in Canada. While they have shared some of this evidence with the public, they haven’t given any specific proof to India, despite making the allegations for several months.
India, meanwhile, denies the allegations and claims that Canada’s accusations are vague and unsubstantiated. Sources familiar with the situation said that Canada has been putting the “burden of denial” on India without providing solid evidence to back up its claims.
In a parallel development, the US is also investigating a separate incident involving an alleged plot to target another pro-Khalistan figure, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is based in the US. Pannun is a lawyer for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a banned organization in India. Last November, the US Department of Justice charged an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, with being involved in a plot allegedly directed by Indian agents to target Pannun. India has announced that a special committee will travel to Washington as part of the probe into this claim.
While both cases involve accusations against India, the US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, insisted that the timing of these two events is purely coincidental. Still, the overlapping tensions raise questions about the broader implications for India’s relationships with both Canada and the US.
Diplomatic ties between India and Canada are now at a critical point, with no clear resolution in sight. As the investigation continues, the stakes are high, not just for Canada and India, but also for their international allies, who are watching closely.
