In recent developments, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has sparked a major diplomatic row by alleging the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist, in Surrey, British Columbia, back in June. Trudeau revealed that Ottawa had shared allegations with India weeks ago, prompting a strong response from the Indian government.India, in turn, has vehemently rejected these allegations, labeling them as "absurd" and "motivated." This escalating dispute has led to a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats, further straining the relationship between the two nations.
Trudeau made his claims during a joint press briefing with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ottawa, where he expressed Canada's willingness to "work constructively with India" to investigate the matter thoroughly. However, crucially, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence supporting Trudeau's accusations.
The allegations made by Canada are reportedly based on both human and signals intelligence, as well as inputs from an ally within the Five Eyes intelligence network. The Five Eyes network comprises the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, who share intelligence and cooperate closely on security matters.
The United States has also weighed in on the issue, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing deep concern about the allegations. Blinken emphasized the importance of the Canadian investigation proceeding and called for India to collaborate on the investigation. The US has engaged directly with the Indian government to address the matter.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that the United States has been in communication with India regarding Canada's allegations. She stated that while there have been discussions with Indian officials, the specifics of these diplomatic conversations remain private.
As tensions continue to mount, the international community will be closely watching how this diplomatic dispute unfolds. It underscores the delicate balance required in handling allegations of this nature and the need for thorough and transparent investigations to determine the truth. The repercussions of these allegations could have far-reaching consequences on the relationships between Canada, India, and their respective allies in the coming months.
