Amid mounting tensions, the Indian Foreign Ministry is recalling its ambassador from Canada following allegations linking Indian diplomats to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Despite repeated requests for evidence from the Canadian government, India has rejected the claims as baseless and accused Canada of using this as a political smear tactic.
Who was Nijjar?
Nijjar, a key figure in the Khalistan movement seeking a separate Sikh state in India, was assassinated last year in Canada. As a wanted man in India, Nijjar’s death has sparked a diplomatic crisis between the two nations.
Diplomatic Rift
Traditionally close allies, India and Canada have seen strained relations since Canadian PM Justin Trudeau implicated Indian agents in Nijjar’s murder. Visa services were temporarily suspended, and a diplomatic spat ensued, leading to the expulsion of Canadian diplomats from India. Multiple Indian nationals have been charged in connection with Nijjar’s killing, adding to the escalating tensions between the countries.
Despite shared strategic interests in trade and security, the rift between India and Canada continues to deepen, with accusations and counter-accusations fueling the diplomatic standoff.