The recent exchange between India and Canada has brought ongoing tensions between the two nations into the spotlight. India clarified that no substantive discussion took place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, despite the latter's claims of raising concerns over the "safety of Canadians" during their brief encounter on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos.
This clarification followed Trudeau's remarks at a press conference where he implied that the brief interaction touched upon the "work that we need to do," referring to the increasing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
These tensions escalated after Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in 2023. Nijjar, who had sought refuge in Canada, was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia, sparking accusations from Canada against India, which India promptly and strongly rejected.
In response to Trudeau’s statements, sources within the Indian government emphasised that while the two leaders did come face-to-face, there was no detailed or substantive conversation.
According to these sources, India reiterated its stance, expressing expectations that anti-India Khalistani activities would not be allowed to flourish on Canadian soil. They pointed out the lack of firm action against those advocating violence, extremism, and terrorism targeting India from within Canada.
India’s concerns extend beyond the Khalistani issue, as officials highlighted the growing nexus between extremist groups and organised crime, including drug syndicates and human trafficking networks in Canada.
Indian officials noted that this rising extremism should be a concern for the Canadian government as well, given the potential domestic and international implications of such activities.
While India values its relationship with Canada, the Indian government stressed that repairing these strained ties would be difficult unless Canada takes strict and verifiable action against those promoting anti-India rhetoric and activities. This includes individuals and groups responsible for fostering disinformation, communal disharmony, and violence both in India and within Canada.
Despite the Indian government’s firm position, Trudeau maintained that he raised concerns about the "safety of Canadians" during the brief exchange with Modi. However, he did not reveal specific details about their interaction.
Trudeau reiterated that his government’s focus remains on ensuring the safety of Canadians and upholding the rule of law, which he described as a fundamental responsibility of the Canadian government.
Tensions between India and Canada have been ongoing since Trudeau's September 2023 allegations. At that time, Trudeau claimed that there were "credible allegations" of Indian agents' involvement in the killing of Nijjar, an accusation that India strongly denied, calling it "absurd" and "motivated."
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force, was wanted by Indian authorities for his role in promoting Khalistani separatism. His death in June 2023 in a targeted shooting in Surrey further complicated the already fragile relationship between the two nations.
The latest episode in the ongoing diplomatic standoff indicates that relations between India and Canada may remain tense unless concrete actions are taken to address the root causes of the issues at hand.
While Trudeau’s comments indicate his focus on domestic security and the protection of Canadians, India’s emphasis on curbing extremism and ensuring that Canadian soil is not used as a base for anti-India activities reflects its broader concerns about the safety and security of both nations.
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