By: Noah Bruster, 2L
On October 14, 2024, Canada expelled top Indian diplomats from its borders and India responded by removing top Canadian diplomats from its own borders. While it may initially appear shocking this joint expulsion is the rock-bottom point in the deteriorating relationship between the countries. The tenuous relationship between Canada and India originated with the Khalistan Movement of the Sikh people in the Punjab state of India. This Nationalist movement seeks to create an independent Sikh nation within the borders of India. While the Indian government historically defied the Khalistan movement, the Canadian government has been supportive of the Sikh culture. Canada now holds the second largest population of Sikhs outside of the Punjab region.
Tensions took a dubious turn on June 18, 2023, when three disguised individuals shot and killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh, labeled a terrorist by the Indian government. A few months later, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, publicly condemned the Indian government, accusing it of orchestrating the attack. The Indian government denied these allegations and has consistently maintained its innocence. While tensions remained high, the Canadian government made the next major move, in May 2024, by arresting three Indian citizens and announcing their investigation into ties between the attack and the Indian government.
Since May, the Canadian government has continued its investigation. The latest development came in mid-October, following the Canadian government’s announcement claiming a top Indian official is a major suspect in the Nijjar attack. Alongside this announcement, the Canadian government discovered many Indian diplomats in Canada were gathering information to target Sikh supporters of the Khalistan Movement. This new evidence led Canada to take the lead in the mutual diplomatic expulsion. Shortly after Canada ejected the Indian diplomats, India followed suit with its Canadian diplomats.
Notwithstanding Canada’s commitment to its accusations, India remains faithful to its position of innocence. It has called Canada’s accusations not just “preposterous” but also “absurd.” The Indian Foreign Ministry claims Canada is doing this simply for “political gain.” Despite its hostility towards Canada, India has been working closely and peacefully with the United States following a similar accusation regarding a failed murder of a New York Sikh.
Nevertheless, the United States has backed Canada’s allegations, and the State Department has urged India to take Canada’s claims “extremely seriously.” As the situation between Canada and India continues to worsen, and the conflict gains more attention, the United States and the world are watching closely. While the situation remains a finger-pointing game, it takes more than simple suspicion to ostracize top diplomats. While no conclusion can be drawn, it appears Canada must have solid evidence as it has sparked global action as the United States, along with Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom–members of the Five Eyes intelligence network–to keep an increasingly scrutinizing eye on India and its actions.
