Canada, India diplomatic tension blasts off as envoys sent packing

In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions, Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats following a police investigation that revealed a “campaign of violence” targeting dissidents, Canadian government sources told Reuters and the Associated Press.

In a retaliatory action, the Indian foreign ministry announced that it has expelled six Canadian diplomats, giving them until Saturday to leave the country.

This came after designated Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and several other diplomats as “persons of interest” in the investigation into the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader and Canadian citizen.

Relations between Canada and India have been strained since September 2023, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that there was credible evidence linking Indian agents to the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil earlier that year.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who advocated for an independent Khalistani state, was designated a “terrorist” by India in July 2020. Following his assassination, India has consistently denied involvement, challenging Canada to provide evidence supporting its claims.

In a recent press conference, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Michael Duheme stated that police have uncovered extensive information about criminal activities linked to agents of the Indian government, posing serious threats to the safety of Canadians and residents in Canada.

On Monday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Canadian chargé d’affaires to express its condemnation of what it called the “completely unacceptable” and “baseless targeting” of the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats.

In October 2023, Canada withdrew more than 40 diplomats from India following a request from New Delhi to reduce its diplomatic presence.

Earlier in June, a committee of Canadian parliamentarians identified India and China as significant foreign threats to Canada’s democratic institutions, citing intelligence agency assessments. In response, India’s envoy in Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, dismissed the report as politically motivated and influenced by Sikh separatist activists.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously expressed hope that India would engage in dialogue to address what he termed a “very serious matter.” This ongoing diplomatic strain continues to impact relations between the two countries.