On Monday, India ordered the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its High Commissioner from Canada in a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions between the two nations. This move follows an ongoing diplomatic spat triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation in 2023, alleging Indian agents were involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.
India has vehemently denied these claims, dismissing Trudeau’s assertions as politically motivated. In a statement issued on Monday, India’s foreign ministry expressed deep frustration with the ongoing investigation in Canada, accusing the Trudeau government of pursuing a “political agenda” under the guise of a formal inquiry. “We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensuring security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials,” the ministry’s statement read.
The expulsion of six Canadian diplomats is set to take effect by Saturday, marking the latest episode in the rapidly deteriorating relations between India and Canada, which have been on a downward spiral since Trudeau’s initial accusation last year.
The diplomatic crisis can be traced back to September 2023, when Prime Minister Trudeau shocked the international community by declaring that his government possessed evidence linking Indian intelligence operatives to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh separatist leader advocating for an independent Khalistan. Nijjar was shot and killed in June 2023 outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, sparking outrage and protests within Canada’s Sikh community.
The accusation sparked an immediate and forceful reaction from India, which categorically rejected any involvement in Nijjar’s assassination. New Delhi accused the Trudeau administration of making unfounded claims without presenting substantive evidence to back the allegations. In the months following Trudeau’s remarks, India has repeatedly asked Canada to provide concrete proof, but claims that none has been forthcoming.
Despite the lack of evidence shared with the public, Trudeau has stood firm on his stance, reiterating the claims of Indian involvement and calling on New Delhi to cooperate with the investigation. “Canada has provided credible, irrefutable evidence of ties between agents of the Government of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil,” Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler said in a statement on Monday, echoing Trudeau’s earlier statements.
India’s decision to expel Canadian diplomats is the latest in a series of diplomatic blows between the two nations. Canada had previously withdrawn more than 40 of its diplomats from India in October 2023 after New Delhi demanded a reduction in Ottawa’s diplomatic presence. This earlier move reflected growing frustrations on both sides, with India accusing Canada of harboring anti-India elements, specifically Sikh separatist groups, and failing to address their security concerns.
India has long been wary of the activities of pro-Khalistan separatist movements in Canada, which it views as a threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Despite New Delhi’s repeated requests to crack down on these groups, Canadian authorities have taken a more lenient stance, citing the country’s commitment to free speech and peaceful activism.
Monday’s decision to expel Canadian diplomats underscores the depth of India’s dissatisfaction with the Trudeau government’s handling of the issue. By withdrawing its own envoy and expelling Canadian officials, New Delhi is sending a clear signal that it has lost patience with Ottawa’s investigation and perceived attempts to “smear” India’s reputation on the global stage.
The diplomatic spat between India and Canada comes at a time when both countries are looking to strengthen their global influence and forge strategic alliances. Canada, along with other Western nations such as the United States, has been eyeing India as a key partner in efforts to counter China’s rising influence, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. However, the assassination accusations have put a strain on these potential partnerships.
In June 2023, a Canadian parliamentary committee released a report naming both India and China as the main foreign threats to Canada’s democratic institutions, based on intelligence inputs. This report highlighted concerns over foreign interference and underscored the challenges Canada faces in balancing its relationships with major global powers.
The U.S. has also been drawn into the fray. In 2023, U.S. intelligence agencies alleged that Indian operatives were involved in a separate assassination plot targeting another Sikh separatist leader in New York. An Indian national was indicted in the U.S. for working at the behest of an unnamed Indian government official to carry out the plot. India distanced itself from the allegations, expressing concern over the matter and launching an internal investigation.
While the U.S. has not taken any direct diplomatic action against India as a result of the alleged plot, the incident has further complicated India’s relationships with Western countries, which have been crucial in its efforts to bolster economic and security ties in the face of an assertive China.
From New Delhi’s perspective, Trudeau’s accusations are not just unfounded but part of a deliberate effort to damage India’s global standing for domestic political gains. “This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains,” India’s foreign ministry stated on Monday.
India’s argument is rooted in its concerns over the political landscape in Canada, where Sikh separatist groups enjoy a degree of influence, particularly in regions with large Sikh populations. The issue of Khalistan—an independent Sikh state to be carved out of India’s Punjab region—has been a point of contention for decades. While the movement has little support within India itself, it has gained traction among some members of the Sikh diaspora in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom.
India views these pro-Khalistan groups as a threat to its sovereignty and has frequently accused Canada of turning a blind eye to their activities. Trudeau’s critics in India argue that his government has pandered to these groups for political reasons, particularly in the context of domestic electoral considerations. The Sikh community in Canada represents a significant voter base, and some analysts in India believe Trudeau’s stance on the assassination issue is partly motivated by the need to maintain their support.
In contrast, the Canadian government has framed its actions as part of a broader commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of its citizens, regardless of their political affiliations. Trudeau’s government insists that its inquiry into Nijjar’s assassination is based on credible intelligence and evidence, and that it has a responsibility to investigate allegations of foreign interference in its domestic affairs.
Canadian officials have also emphasized that the investigation into Nijjar’s death is not an attack on India as a nation, but rather an attempt to hold accountable any individuals or entities involved in illegal activities on Canadian soil. “Now, it is time for India to live up to what it said it would do and look into those allegations,” Wheeler said on Monday, urging New Delhi to cooperate with the investigation rather than dismiss it as politically motivated.
However, Canada’s refusal to publicly disclose the evidence it claims to have has fueled skepticism, both within India and among international observers. Critics argue that without clear proof, Trudeau’s accusations risk damaging the bilateral relationship with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, at a time when both countries stand to benefit from stronger ties in trade, technology, and security.
As the diplomatic standoff intensifies, questions remain about the long-term implications for India-Canada relations. Both nations have significant economic and strategic interests that could be adversely affected by prolonged tensions. Canada is home to a large Indian diaspora, and bilateral trade between the two countries was valued at over $11 billion in 2022, with significant potential for growth.
However, the current diplomatic crisis threatens to derail any progress in strengthening ties. Canada’s actions have also raised concerns among other Western nations, many of whom are watching closely to see how the situation unfolds. Countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, which have strong ties with both India and Canada, may find themselves in a delicate position as they navigate their own relationships with New Delhi and Ottawa.
For now, both sides remain locked in a war of words, with little indication of a resolution in sight. Whether the two nations can find a way to de-escalate the situation and rebuild trust will depend largely on the outcome of Canada’s investigation and how both governments choose to approach future diplomacy.
