Canada has taken the drastic step of expelling six Indian diplomats and consular officials as tensions between the two nations escalate over an ongoing investigation into the assassination of a prominent Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia. The move is the latest in a series of actions that have strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, raising concerns over international law, security, and sovereignty.
This diplomatic escalation came just hours after India ordered the expulsion of six senior Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner. India has also withdrawn its envoy from Canada, contradicting earlier statements from Ottawa. What began as a single act of violence—the assassination of Nijjar—has now spiraled into a complex geopolitical crisis, one that has implications beyond Canada and India, particularly regarding global security and intelligence operations.
The genesis of the current crisis lies in the shocking murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and an outspoken advocate for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland, Khalistan, which would be carved out of India’s Punjab region. Nijjar, 45, was shot dead on June 18, 2023, outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population. His murder sent shockwaves throughout the Sikh community in Canada, with thousands protesting and demanding justice.
Canadian authorities launched an intensive investigation into the killing. By mid-September 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered an explosive statement to the Canadian Parliament, alleging that there was credible evidence linking Indian government agents to Nijjar’s assassination. This unprecedented claim, which Trudeau said Canada was actively pursuing, set the stage for a tit-for-tat diplomatic feud.
India quickly rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd,” dismissing them as an attempt to deflect from internal issues within Canada. The two nations subsequently expelled each other’s top intelligence officers in a series of retaliatory actions that highlighted the rapid deterioration in their diplomatic relationship.
By September 2023, India had suspended the issuance of new visas to Canadian citizens and requested that Ottawa reduce its diplomatic presence in India. This move, framed by India as a response to perceived hostility towards the Indian government, further strained relations. Although the visa suspension was eventually lifted two months later, the damage had been done, and the relationship between the two countries remained deeply fractured.
Further complicating the situation, tens of thousands of Sikhs turned out at the same gurdwara where Nijjar was killed to participate in an unofficial referendum on the creation of Khalistan on October 29, 2023. The referendum drew massive attention and intensified India’s concerns over Sikh separatism, further fueling the dispute between New Delhi and Ottawa.
The diplomatic dispute between India and Canada has reverberated across the globe, drawing in other nations. One of the most significant developments came in November 2023 when a senior U.S. official revealed that American authorities had thwarted a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a leading figure in the Khalistan movement and a close associate of Nijjar. U.S. intelligence linked the foiled plot to Indian agents, a revelation that sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles in Washington.
In April 2024, The Washington Post published a report claiming that an Indian intelligence officer had been directly involved in both Nijjar’s assassination and the plot to kill Pannun in the United States. The White House expressed deep concern, calling it a “serious matter.” India’s Foreign Ministry, however, dismissed the report as containing “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations.”
These developments have brought into question the role of intelligence agencies in international politics and the extent to which governments are willing to pursue their objectives abroad. As Canada and India continue to clash, other nations are watching closely, particularly the United States and its allies, who are keen to prevent the dispute from destabilizing broader geopolitical alliances.
In the months following Trudeau’s explosive allegations, Canadian law enforcement agencies intensified their investigation into Nijjar’s murder. By May 2024, Canadian police had charged three individuals linked to the killing, though details surrounding their identities and affiliations remain tightly guarded by Canadian officials.
Meanwhile, the Sikh community in Canada, which numbers over 770,000, has rallied behind the demand for justice in Nijjar’s case. Demonstrations and protests have become a regular occurrence in cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Surrey, where tens of thousands of Sikhs gathered at the same gurdwara where Nijjar was murdered to cast their votes in an unofficial referendum for Khalistan.
These events have placed enormous pressure on the Trudeau government, which faces criticism both domestically and internationally. Some critics argue that Trudeau’s handling of the situation has escalated tensions unnecessarily, while others insist that the Canadian government is right to stand firm in defending its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.
On the economic front, relations between Canada and India have taken a significant hit. In September 2023, just weeks after Trudeau’s allegations, Canada unexpectedly paused trade negotiations with India, a move that surprised both domestic and international observers. The trade talks, which were set to finalize an initial pact in 2023, have since stalled indefinitely. Canada’s suspension of these talks signals the deep-rooted mistrust that now exists between the two nations and raises questions about the future of bilateral economic relations.
At the heart of the current dispute is the issue of Sikh separatism, an extremely sensitive topic in India. The Khalistan movement, which calls for an independent Sikh homeland, has long been a source of tension between the Indian government and Sikh communities abroad, particularly in countries like Canada, the U.K., and the U.S., where large Sikh diasporas exist.
For India, the Khalistan issue is not just about separatism but also terrorism. The Indian government views the Khalistan movement as a threat to its territorial integrity and has accused its leaders, including Nijjar and Pannun, of promoting violence and extremism. In recent years, India’s anti-terror agencies have actively pursued cases against prominent Khalistan figures, with several leaders facing charges of sedition and terrorism.
Nijjar’s assassination has only heightened India’s concerns. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his “strong concerns” about Sikh separatist protests in Canada during a meeting with Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi in September 2023. Modi’s government sees the Canadian government’s leniency towards Sikh separatists as emboldening figures like Nijjar and Pannun, a view that has led to further friction between the two countries.
The latest round of diplomatic expulsions, with both countries now having expelled six diplomats each, marks a significant low in Canada-India relations. For Canada, the expulsion of Indian diplomats is a direct response to the alleged involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s murder, signaling Ottawa’s resolve to protect its citizens and uphold international law.
For India, the expulsion of Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner, represents a broader rejection of Canada’s stance on the Khalistan issue. India has consistently maintained that Canada has failed to take adequate steps to curb the activities of pro-Khalistan groups operating within its borders.
This mutual expulsion of diplomats is a symbolic gesture, underscoring the lack of trust and dialogue between the two nations. While diplomatic expulsions are not uncommon in international relations, this instance stands out for its intensity and the rapid escalation of tensions, especially between two countries that, until recently, shared strong economic and cultural ties.
The ongoing diplomatic crisis between Canada and India is likely to have far-reaching consequences, both regionally and globally. The expulsion of diplomats is just the latest development in a conflict that shows no signs of abating. With tensions running high and both sides unwilling to back down, the dispute could drag on for months, if not years.
For Canada, the challenge will be balancing the demands of its large Sikh population with its commitment to maintaining strong international relations, particularly with a key trading partner like India. For India, the issue is not just about its relationship with Canada but also about sending a message to other nations harboring Sikh separatists.
The geopolitical implications of this crisis are profound. As the global community watches closely, the dispute between Canada and India raises critical questions about the future of intelligence operations, international law, and the sovereignty of nations. More importantly, it underscores the fragility of diplomatic relations in a world where the lines between domestic politics and global affairs are increasingly blurred.
