India and Canada, two democratic nations with strong diaspora linkages, face an ever-escalating diplomatic confrontation. At the core of the issue lies a longstanding challenge of the Khalistan conundrum which has cast a dark shadow for decades. In June 2023, the assassination of prominent Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver fuelled anti-India sentiments suspecting an Indian hand in it. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told his country’s parliament last year that officials had ‘credible’ evidence of an Indian government connection to the murder.
“Canada has presented us no hard evidentiary proof whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats,” foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
The ties saw a new low with the tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions following Canada falsely accusing India of Nijjar’s murder without any concrete evidence. The reality is that Ottawa continues to harbour pro-Khalistan elements and turn a blind eye to anti-India activists inimical to New Delhi. To understand this holistically, three core areas need to be addressed: Canada becoming the fountainhead of the Khalistan movement and its impact on relations between Canada and India; two, Canada’s indifference to act on India’s legitimate security concerns; and the broader geopolitical aspect of the role of Five Eyes alliance.
The Khalistan movement has been a thorny problem between India and Canada. While the movement remains suppressed within the Indian borders, it fuels periodical attempts at revival by some radical Sikh diaspora in Canada. This is unacceptable to India as it impinges on the nation’s sovereignty
The Khalistan Conundrum: A Lingering Wound
Separatism in the form of Khalistan demanding a separate Sikh nation has been a thorny political problem in relations between India and Canada since the 1980s. While the movement remains suppressed and the idea unsupported within the Indian borders, it fuels periodical attempts at revival by some radical Sikh diaspora in Canada. This is unacceptable to India as it impinges on the sovereignty of the nation.
Canada by intent and due to petty vote bank politics has failed to act against separatists advocating Khalistan and indulging in anti-India rhetoric. India has repeatedly expressed concerns over this and provided details of specific anti-national elements to Canada. However, Canada’s response has been timid, in the name of protecting free speech. Letting Canadian nationals, be they Sikhs or otherwise, indulge in such activities is akin to harbouring terrorists and abetting anti-India activities on its soil. Canada is becoming another Ala-Pakistan.
Insensitive Canada on India’s Security Concerns
In addition to the Khalistan issue, India has time and again raised other issues concerning criminal mafias and terrorists seeking refuge and being active in the Canadian territory. The case of Lawrence Bishnoi, a most wanted criminal in India who was involved in a series of criminal activities, is emblematic of this problem. Canada has made no commitment, or given any assurance, even after 26 formal extradition requests by India. Ironically, in recent times, Canada has started to tacitly fuel such activities driven by vote bank politics.
This points to a larger issue of harbouring Khalistan terrorists and anti-India elements by some nations, especially Canada and the USA, and their refusal to extradite individuals wanted for acts of violence or terrorism. This reluctance to act is not just a matter of bilateral relations but a clear violation of global norms surrounding counterterrorism cooperation. By neglecting these requests, Canada dons the dangerous path of being a haven for terrorists, little realising that it could boomerang 360 degrees and become a victim too like Pakistan.
The growing cases of violent attacks targeting journalists of Indian descent in Canada who are critical of anti-India activities like the Khalistan movement pose a security challenge to the Indian diaspora and India as such. Rishi Kumar Nagar, Sameer Kaushal and Deepak Punj were threatened and attacked and even today the Canadian authorities haven’t strived hard to protect such victims or punish culprits. Such attacks are indicative of rising intolerance and tacit support within some of the more extremist segments of Canadian society. The government law and order agencies too have been turning a blind eye. Is such an attitude befitting a responsible nation or indicative of the rogues within which run the government?
One of the most important explanations for Canada’s inaction in this regard is domestic politics. The Liberal Party government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, operating in a technical minority status, relies on the parliamentary support of various ethnic-voter factions, including the Sikhs, for its survival
The Role of Five Eyes: Myopic Vision
The recent diplomatic spat has also assumed a geopolitical dimension within the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence cooperation among the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. While the USA and the UK have made unwarranted official statements, the others have been non-committal and diplomatic. India should be prepared for this diplomatic confrontation should it escalate and highlight the role of the official machinery of nations in fuelling anti-India forces. The response has to be firm, transparent and with hard evidence.
Nations of the Five Eyes alliance must be wary of knee-jerk statements and blindly supporting member states in the absence of any credible evidence. The alliance has no business to interfere in bilateral disputes, especially when they concern sensitive national security issues. Such exceptionalism and unilateralism, which have been defining characteristics of the US, cannot be a rule.
India must be treated as an equal with its military and economic global standing and thus will not compromise on matters of national security and national interest. The West must realise the biggest threat lies within and radicalisation of society and Islamist forces will get oxygen from such compromises.
Political Decision Making of Trudeau Government
One of the most important explanations for Canada’s inaction in this regard is domestic politics. The Liberal Party government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, operating in a technical minority status, relies greatly on the parliamentary support of various ethnic-voter factions, including the Sikhs, for its political survival. Opponents within Canada’s Liberal Party, as well as those in the opposition NDP party, have been accused of soft-peddling pro-Khalistan elements for electoral gains.
Such short-sightedness in political calculus could have severe long-term consequences for Canada and its relations with India. The ‘Five Eyes’ also cannot afford to risk alienating an important ally in the Indo-Pacific region. With Trudeau’s government teetering on the brink, a possible change in leadership could review the present outlook. India, therefore, needs to calibrate its strategy, rather than getting entangled in the intricacies of Canadian domestic politics.
Impact of Diplomatic Spat
The India-Canada diplomatic spat will result in reduced diplomatic staff and fewer visa approvals, as diplomatic and immigration policies may become increasingly restrictive. The bilateral trade value between the two nations is not significant and thus not a binding factor. Canada accounted for less than 1 per cent of India’s total foreign trade. Thus, possible economic sanctions will have no teeth but add bitterness to the bilateral ties. Yet any bridges that so develop between the two nations will hit Canada more than India. The role of Canada in the vision of Viksit Bharat is inconsequential.
A Path Forward: The dynamics include; introspection and course correction
India’s frustration with Canada’s inaction is understandable, but it also presents an opportunity for introspection. The MEA and India’s diplomatic arms must begin to reflect on how they have handled this matter in the past. Have India’s protests been forceful enough? To this extent, have we managed to make our case lucidly in international forums? Are there better forms of mobilising the leaders of this country without being dragged into local politics?
The Five Eyes alliance must be wary of blindly supporting member states without credible evidence. It has no business to interfere in bilateral disputes, especially when sensitive national security issues are involved. The alliance cannot risk alienating India, an important ally in the Indo-Pacific region
Unfortunately, the diplomatic machinery has failed to shift the narrative in Canada, where the voices of a vast majority of patriotic Indian Canadians often go unheard. By strengthening connections with the broader diaspora and other influential stakeholders within Canada, India can work to counterbalance the Khalistan narrative that has dominated certain sections of the Canadian political landscape. It is a fact that in Canada, Khalistan is more politically motivated than ideological by the majority.
In conclusion, the India-Canada diplomatic spat is a symptom of deeper and structural challenges in the bilateral relationship. India’s stance is righteous, its security concerns are legitimate, and its response to baseless allegations is firm. However, India must also look inward and assess where its diplomatic efforts can be strengthened. Only through a combination of assertiveness, introspection, and strategic recalibration can India hope to reset its relationship with Canada and protect its interests on the global stage.
India must also see the bigger picture of hurdles being put on its pathway of Viksit Bharat and the increasing challenges both external and internal (externally abetted) that it needs to be prepared to face. Any shift in the global standing and upsetting of the podium will face resistance and hurdles.
The author, a PVSM, AVSM, VSM has had an illustrious career spanning nearly four decades. A distinguished Armoured Corps officer, he has served in various prestigious staff and command appointments including Commander Independent Armoured Brigade, ADG PP, GOC Armoured Division and GOC Strike 1. The officer retired as DG Mechanised Forces in December 2017 during which he was the architect to initiate process for reintroduction of Light Tank and Chairman on the study on C5ISR for Indian Army. Subsequently he was Consultant MoD/OFB from 2018 to 2020. He is also a reputed defence analyst, a motivational speaker and prolific writer on matters of military, defence technology and national security. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily carry the views of Raksha Anirveda
