Canada’s cooperation with the United States regarding intelligence relatedto the potential involvement of Indian agents in the murder of Sikh leaderHardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia earlier this year was described as”very close” by a senior Canadian government source on Tuesday. PrimeMinister Justin Trudeau had revealed on Monday that domestic intelligenceagencies were actively pursuing credible allegations linking agents fromNew Delhi to the shooting of Nijjar in June.
The source emphasized the close collaboration with the U.S., even regardingthe recent public disclosure of information. They noted that the evidencein Canada’s possession would be shared at an appropriate time, alluding tothe sensitivity of the information.
Trudeau, addressing reporters on Tuesday, stressed the global implicationsof the case within international law and urged the Indian government totake it seriously and cooperate fully with Canada’s investigation. India,however, swiftly dismissed Trudeau’s claim as absurd and responded byexpelling a Canadian diplomat, mirroring Canada’s expulsion of India’s topintelligence figure the previous day.
This escalating dispute deals a fresh blow to diplomatic relations thathave been deteriorating over the years, primarily due to New Delhi’sconcerns regarding Sikh separatist activity in Canada. Roland Paris,Trudeau’s former foreign policy adviser and an international affairsprofessor at the University of Ottawa, expressed expectations that normaldiscussions between the two governments would be challenging while thisissue remains unresolved.
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On a positive note, U.S. authorities voiced their support for Canada’sinvestigation on Tuesday. A senior State Department official stated thatthey had maintained close contact with their Canadian counterparts,expressing concern about the allegations and emphasizing the importance ofa thorough and transparent investigation while urging the Indian governmentto cooperate. This international dimension adds complexity to an alreadytense situation
