National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Washington.
| Photo Credit: AP

The Canadian allegations regarding India’s involvement in the killing of a pro-Khalistan leader are “serious” and need to be investigated fully, the White House has said.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

The claims made by Canada were discussed when visiting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met here last week, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House told reporters at a news conference here.

“The issue was discussed. We’ll certainly leave it to those two countries to talk about their bilateral relationship,” Mr. Kirby said in response to a question.

“We’ve been clear, these allegations are serious, they need to be fully investigated and of course, as we’ve said before, we urge India to participate actively in that investigation,” Mr. Kirby said.

State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at a separate news conference that it’s critical that Canada’s investigation proceeds and the perpetrators are brought to justice.

“We also have, as we’ve previously said publicly and privately, urged the Indian government to cooperate in the Canadian investigation and cooperate in those efforts,” he said.

The U.S., he said, has seen the reports on the diplomatic staffing levels for the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.

“But I don’t have anything further to offer on those reports and certainly don’t want to get into hypotheticals and take this process one step at a time. As it relates to our Indo-Pacific strategy and the focus that we continue to place on the region, that effort and that line of work is going to continue,” he said.

“With India, we are partners with them in the Quad and in many others, and we continue to work with them and other countries in the region on a number of important issues.

“But as I said, we take these allegations very seriously and we continue to not just work closely with our Canadian partners but have publicly and privately urged the Indian government to cooperate with Canada,” Mr. Patel said.

New Delhi:
Amid a huge diplomatic row over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada has updated its travel advisory, asking its citizens in India to “stay vigilant and exercise caution”.

1. “In the context of recent developments in Canada and in India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada on social media. Please remain vigilant and exercise caution,” the Canadian government said in an updated advisory.

2. Khalistani sympathisers protested outside the Indian embassies and consulates in Canada’s Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver today over Nijjar’s killing. Protesters – led by the members of a pro-Khalistani outfit -‘Sikhs For Justice’ (SFJ) – were seen raising slogans and waving Khalistani flags.

3. The protests come a week after Canada Prime minister Justin Trudeau kicked up a massive diplomatic row between the two countries, alleging that “Indian government agents” could be behind the shooting of Nijjar.

4. Sources say pro-Khalistani extremists (PKE) have started openly intimidating minority Hindus there, and many instances of defacing of temples have been reported.

5. “The open threats by Khalistanis to the physical security of Indian missions and diplomats in Canada is a very serious development and challenges the obligation of Canada under the Vienna Convention,” a senior government officer who’s closely monitoring the situation said, requesting anonymity.

6. India has rejected Justin Trudeau’s allegation as “absurd”. Canada has shared no specific information regarding its charges, India said, flagging “politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence” in that country.

7. India has also accused Canada of not acting upon “specific evidence about criminal activities” done by Canada-based individuals. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has prepared a list of 19 fugitive Khalistani terrorists living in UK, US, Canada, Dubai, Pakistan and other countries whose properties are also likely be confiscated, sources said.

8. Justin Trudeau also claimed that such “credible allegations” were shared with India weeks ago. “Canada has shared the credible allegations that I talked about on Monday with India. We did that many weeks ago. We are there to work constructively with India. We hope that they engage with us so that we can get to the bottom of this very serious matter,” he told a news conference on Saturday.

9. Top US diplomat David Cohen claimed that it was the “shared intelligence among ‘Five Eyes’ partners that had prompted Justin Trudeau go public with his big charge against India. Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair called the relationship with India “important,” but asserted that allegations over the killing of Nijjar should be investigated.

10. Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada’s British Columbia in June. He was chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India’s most wanted terrorists.

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New Delhi:
Amid strains in India-Canada ties, Canadian Defence Minister has called his country’s ties with India “important”. He, however, also said that his country wants a thorough investigation into the allegations.

Here are the top 10 updates on India-Canada row

New Delhi:

Amid a huge diplomatic row between India and Canada, the parents of Indian students are worried that the standoff can impact their children in Canada and expose them to a security risk.

They are worried that their children may experience discrimination or bias based on their nationality.

“My daughter went to Canada to study seven months ago. My child is also concerned there, she can’t focus on her studies,” Balwinder Singh – whose daughter studies in Canada – told news agency ANI.

“My two daughters are in Canada and I am tense. Governments of both countries should find a solution,” another parent, Kuldeep Kaur said.

Some students are also jittery about their plan to study in Canada as the hostility between the two countries deepens. They are worried that the government move to suspend Visa services in Canada may have a direct implication on their migration.

Punjab BJP Chief Sunil Jakhar has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to set up a helpline for Indians students and residents in Canada.

“I would request you to institute a dedicated helpline number on which our NRIs and students can contact and seek help from Indian Consulates. A WhatsApp number can be released for Indian students planning to go abroad to get in touch with authorities in case of need and guidance,” Mr Jakhar said.

Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and ensure the well-being of the students in Canada.

Earlier this week, Canada’s Justin Trudeau made the explosive charge that “Indian government agents” could be behind the shooting of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the allegation as “absurd”.

Canada has shared no specific information regarding its charges, India said, flagging “politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence” in that country.

Both India and Canada issued travel advisories and expelled a senior diplomat of the other country.

India has advised its nationals in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise “utmost caution” in view of growing anti-India activities and “politically-condoned” hate crimes.

“Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant,” the foreign ministry said.

Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada’s British Columbia in June. He was chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India’s most wanted terrorists. 

The Biden administration will likely try to stay out of the diplomatic dispute between Canada and India as much it can, aiming not to disrupt the progress it’s made in its relationship with PM Narendra Modi’s government, the founder of political strategy firm Signum Global Advisors says. “We’re doing everything we can to engage with India to try to help outcompete China, and I don’t think the United States is going to get too involved” in the dispute, Signum Chairman Charles Myers said on BNN Bloomberg Television. Myers, former vice chairman at Evercore, is a longtime Democratic Party donor who has raised money for Biden.

Canada and India relations have been strained over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot on June 18 in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week there’s “credible” evidence that links the Indian government to the murder of Nijjar. “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday urged India to work with Canada in its investigation in the case. “We want to see accountability, and it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result,” he said.

But US and other allies have stopped short of taking any specific retaliatory measures, such as expelling Indian diplomats.

The Indian government, which denied involvement in the killing, has designated Nijjar as a Khalistani terrorist and criticized Trudeau’s government for not doing more to combat “anti-India activities” within the Indian diaspora in Canada.

Canada kicked out a senior Indian diplomat from the country, and India retaliated in a tit-for-tat move. India has suspended visa applications for Canadians, a measure that will choke off business and leisure travel from Canada if it’s kept in place for long.

“For Prime Minister Trudeau to even make these allegations public, he has to have very good intel and evidence, given how serious the allegation is,” said Myers. “If true, it is an example of state-sponsored terrorism on Canadian soil.”

Even so, the US is “going to try to stay out of this,” he said.

The Biden administration will likely try to stay out of the diplomatic dispute between Canada and India as much it can, aiming not to disrupt the progress it’s made in its relationship with PM Narendra Modi’s government, the founder of political strategy firm Signum Global Advisors says. “We’re doing everything we can to engage with India to try to help outcompete China, and I don’t think the United States is going to get too involved” in the dispute, Signum Chairman Charles Myers said on BNN Bloomberg Television. Myers, former vice chairman at Evercore, is a longtime Democratic Party donor who has raised money for Biden.

Canada and India relations have been strained over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot on June 18 in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week there’s “credible” evidence that links the Indian government to the murder of Nijjar. “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday urged India to work with Canada in its investigation in the case. “We want to see accountability, and it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result,” he said.

But US and other allies have stopped short of taking any specific retaliatory measures, such as expelling Indian diplomats.

The Indian government, which denied involvement in the killing, has designated Nijjar as a Khalistani terrorist and criticized Trudeau’s government for not doing more to combat “anti-India activities” within the Indian diaspora in Canada.

Canada kicked out a senior Indian diplomat from the country, and India retaliated in a tit-for-tat move. India has suspended visa applications for Canadians, a measure that will choke off business and leisure travel from Canada if it’s kept in place for long.

“For Prime Minister Trudeau to even make these allegations public, he has to have very good intel and evidence, given how serious the allegation is,” said Myers. “If true, it is an example of state-sponsored terrorism on Canadian soil.”

Even so, the US is “going to try to stay out of this,” he said.

The Indian flag is seen flying at the High Commission of India in Ottawa, Canada
| Photo Credit: AP

 Even physical applications for Indian visas from Canadian citizens to Indian missions in third countries will not be processed under the suspension of Indian visas for Canadians that the Government of India is enforcing this week. A source clarified to The Hindu that the suspension of Indian visas for Canadians has a worldwide scope as Indian missions outside Canada will also not accept walk-in paper visa applications from Canadians as part of the process of suspension. 

The person with knowledge of the Indian visa process said that this is mainly because Indian visa application like other visa applications will require Canadians to deposit a visa fees with Indian missions in third countries. “We would not like to receive visa fees — which is non-refundable anyway — if we do not plan to process the visa applications,” said the source. 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that normal functioning of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa and other Indian missions has been affected because of “security threats” that are being faced by Indian diplomats and they are therefore “temporarily unable” to issue visas. That apart the spokesperson of the MEA said, e-visas for Canadians were also within the ambit of the suspension.

Political undercurrents

But the latest clarification has broadened the scope of the ban as no Canadian will be entertained in any of the Indian missions spread across the world for an Indian visa. This also indicates that though the suspension is being implemented because of apparent “security threats”, it also has bureaucratic and political undercurrents leading to a worldwide implementation through Indian missions. India has one of the largest diplomatic networks in the world covering most of the global map and the visa ban for Canadians will effectively end flow of Canadian passport holders to India for a temporary period. This suspension however does not cover those Canadians who hold OCI cards and valid Indian visas.

The visa crisis is a fallout of the controversy triggered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Monday statement before the House of Commons in which he accused Indian operatives for being behind the June murder of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia. Subsequently, Canadian missions in India have “decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India” indicating they were cutting down on diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff employed in India. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said India would prefer “parity” in posting of diplomats in each other’s missions indicating that Canada will scale down its diplomatic manpower in India. 

Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay arrives at the Ministry of External Affairs headquarters as he was summoned by the MEA in a reciprocal move to Canada expelling a senior Indian diplomat, in New Delhi on September 19.
| Photo Credit: ANI

In view of the prevailing diplomatic tension, Canada has “temporarily adjusted” its staff presence in India, the High Commission of Canada informed The Hindu on Thursday. The confirmation came in the backdrop of reports that local staffs employed in the Canadian missions in India have been asked to go on leave. There were similar information about Indian missions in Canada suspending visa facilities for Canadian citizens but the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not stated anything definitive on this matter till the time of this report.

Also read: Indian visa suspension for Canadians done as per official order: BLS International

“In light of the current environment where tensions have heightened, we are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats. With some diplomats having received threats on various social media platforms, Global Affairs Canada is assessing its staff complement in India. As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India,” the High Commission of Canada has told The Hindu.

The Canadian mission also reminded the Government of India of obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 that assures protection of foreign diplomats and said, “we expect India to provide for the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we are for theirs here.”

“Global Affairs Canada will continue to take all appropriate measures to protect the health and safety of all our personnel, including locally-engaged staff, and to protect our operations in India. Decisions are made based on a number of factors including the professional profile of an employee or personal circumstances,” said the High Commission of Canada.

Also read: India issues tit-for-tat travel advisory for Canada

Since last Monday when Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian operatives of carrying out the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, threats has heightened for Indian diplomats in Canada and Ottawa’s diplomats in India. On both sides vitriolic online comments targeted serving diplomats.

Earlier media reports had circulated that India had stopped issuing visas for Canadians but the MEA has refused to say anything definitive on this so far. In its travel advisory issued on Wednesday, Ministry of External Affairs had pointed out that Indian diplomats and a section of the Indian population in Canada were also being targeted in campaigns carried out by the Khalistan sympathisers. In the travel advisory, the Government of India focused on all its citizens staying in Canada and urged them to exercise caution in view of “politically condoned” violence targeting Indians.