Celebrating ten years of India’s Act East Policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 21st ASEAN-India Summit held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, to evaluate the achievements of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and plan future collaborations.

When Modi met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, tensions were already high. Trudeau focused on discussing India’s alleged role in the killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada last year. Meanwhile, Indian officials urged Canada to tackle activities they consider threats to India’s security.

The ongoing conflict traces its roots back to more contentious issues. Last year, the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist in Canada allegedly linked to the Indian government, sparked the initial controversy. Prime Minister Trudeau hinted at India’s involvement, urging cooperation in the investigations, which India denied. This incident escalated into a broader diplomatic standoff involving Canada and the United States, which, while not directly accusing India, supported Canada’s investigation and shared intelligence suggesting India’s involvement.

A turning point in the international narrative came when reports surfaced of an alleged Indian plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen and a leader of the Sikh advocacy group Sikhs for Justice. This plot, reportedly orchestrated by an Indian government official, drew sharp criticism and concern, even prompting US President Joe Biden to discuss the matter with Prime Minister Modi at the G20 summit. The US Justice Department eventually charged an unnamed Indian official, illustrating the complex web of geopolitics and intelligence-sharing that has put India’s foreign relations under considerable strain.

The recent situation worsened on October 14th when Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, citing new evidence of wrongdoing. In response, India quickly pulled its diplomats out of Canada for safety reasons and expelled six Canadian diplomats.

A report from the Washington Post revealed that Canadian officials had a secret meeting in Singapore with India’s national security adviser. They shared evidence suggesting that Indian diplomats in Canada were gathering intelligence on Sikh separatists, which was then used by India for planning attacks.

The diplomatic tension between India and Canada has deepened following serious allegations and counter-allegations. The conflict traces back to when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of orchestrating the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh. This accusation led to a diplomatic row, with India being implicated shortly thereafter in another assassination attempt in the US against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Recent events saw a further escalation when Canadian authorities arrested three individuals linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, with suspicions that they were contracted by India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). In response to mounting evidence, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, which India countered by expelling six Canadian diplomats.

Hours after these expulsions, Prime Minister Trudeau emphasized in a press conference in Ottawa that the actions taken were not intended to create tension but were necessary due to India’s lack of cooperation. He revealed that Canadian officials had shared Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) evidence with Indian counterparts, identifying six Indian government agents involved in criminal activities, but India had not cooperated.

During this press conference, Trudeau, alongside Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc, reiterated the severe nature of the allegations. Trudeau stated that India’s involvement in criminal activities on Canadian soil, including murder and extortion, was “absolutely unacceptable.” He highlighted the importance of a recent meeting between national security advisors in Singapore, which he had stressed to PM Modi as critical, yet it failed to yield results.

Foreign Affairs Minister Joly was reluctant to engage in diplomatic confrontation, given the strong people-to-people ties between Canada and India, but stressed the necessity for India’s cooperation in ongoing investigations. She pointed out the significant differences between this situation and similar investigations in the US, notably that the violence and involvement of diplomats were direct and had escalated.

Trudeau and his ministers have contacted international partners, including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, to discuss the situation and seek support. The Canadian government maintains that all options, including sanctions, are being considered as they urge India to engage constructively in resolving these serious allegations.

The latest diplomatic crisis highlights broader concerns about India’s actions within its diaspora and raises questions about the alignment of India’s security practices with international norms, particularly as tensions spill over into the arenas of global diplomacy and public safety.

This incident has severely damaged India’s international reputation and highlighted the complex nature of global politics, intelligence-sharing, and the challenge of balancing national and international interests. It reveals the complications in international dealings, mainly when countries keep secrets and prioritize their interests.

India has valid frustrations with Western allies who have been slow to address extremist activities aimed at India from their soil. However, India’s alleged involvement in assassination plots has tarnished its international reputation. India must be open and address these controversies to rebuild trust with other nations. While covert operations are sometimes necessary for national security, they can backfire and damage diplomatic relationships. Meanwhile, India has emphatically countered Canada’s allegation of links between the Indian government’s “agents” and “organized crime elements” – the Bishnoi gang in particular. India has stated that it has been requesting Ottawa to arrest members of the Bishnoi gang. This clearly explains India’s position on the matter.

Despite these challenges and rising tensions, Western countries, including the United States, continue to seek stronger ties with India to counterbalance China’s influence. Regardless of the issues, India still plays a significant role globally in defense, trade, and economic sectors

.-By Hari Jaisingh