Rahat Rao, a Pakistani-born businessman in Canada, was brutally attacked and set on fire at his currency exchange office in Surrey, British Columbia. The attack comes amidst tense political relations between Canada and India following the controversial murder of a Sikh separatist in 2023, which some suspect was orchestrated by Pakistan’s ISI. The motive behind the violent assault on Rao remains unclear, but there are suggestions that it could be linked to a larger web of international espionage and business rivalries involving the ISI and other shadowy figures. As the investigation unfolds, the attack raises questions about the deep-seated geopolitical conflicts playing out on Canadian soil.
In Canada, a serious incident involving a member of Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has occurred. Rahat Rao, who runs a currency exchange business in Surrey, British Columbia, was attacked by an unknown individual.
Here’s what we know: On Friday, someone walked into Rao’s office pretending to need money exchanged. Instead, this person threw something flammable on Rao and set him on fire before fleeing the scene. Rao, who is part of the Canadian-Pakistani community, was badly injured and remains in the hospital.
Earlier, it was reported that Rahat Rao had been questioned by the police regarding the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist, who was killed outside a Sikh temple in Surrey last year. The murder strained relations between India and Canada, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting that Indian agents might have been involved.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had previously visited Rao’s office and questioned him for nearly two hours about Nijjar’s murder. They even made him delete posts from his social media accounts.
There are suspicions that ISI might have been involved in Nijjar’s killing. Reports suggest that Rao and another person named Tariq Kiyani could be working for the ISI in Canada, managing operations related to terrorism and illegal activities. It is also believed that Rao and Kiyani might have been trying to gain control over drug trafficking and other criminal enterprises, possibly in collaboration with Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
On the day of the attack, police received a report around 1:10 p.m. PT. The attacker reportedly used a flammable substance to ignite Rao before fleeing in a stolen Mini Cooper, which was later found by the police. Authorities are still searching for the suspect, who is described as a man aged 25 to 30, wearing black pants, a grey hoodie with black sleeves, and a green baseball cap.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. The RCMP is urging anyone with information to come forward and is asking anyone who sees the suspect to call 911.
